Abstract: A shutter assembly for an animal-watering valve which is operable by a small animal moving a lever arm from side to side. The primary purpose of the shutter is to prevent the animal from stuffing material between the lever arm and the water passage and thereby render the valve inoperable i.e. in a full on, full off or leaking mode. The shutter includes a disc mounted on the lever arm which substantially covers the annular opening between the lever arm and the water passage formed in the valve housing. To insure operablility of the valve at elevated water pressures, a pressure equalization chamber may be formed in the valve to equalize the water pressure on the shutter when the valve is in the closed position.