First Registry for Animal Abusers

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) today announced an effort aimed at creating public registries in each state of anyone convicted of felony animal abuse. This could include violence (torture, mutilation, intentional killings, etc.), sexual abuse, and animal fighting as well as neglect (such as hoarding). Such registries would help protect animals, pet guardians and communities by preventing repeat offenses from anyone with an established history of abusing animals. 

Through its campaign, www.ExposeAnimalAbusers.org, the animal protection organization is promoting model legislation that state legislatures could enact. Such bills have been introduced in the past by elected officials in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Tennessee, and the first-ever bill for a statewide registry in California was today announced by its sponsor, State Senator Dean Florez.

Historic Vote in Suffolk County, New York Creates Nation's First Registry for Animal Abusers. October 12, 2010 Today, Suffolk County lawmakers voted unanimously to create the nation’s first animal abuser registry, designed to keep convicted abusers away from animals. Sponsored by Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), the new law will require adults living in Suffolk County (population over 1.5 million) who have been convicted of animal abuse crimes to register on an online registry for five years following their convictions. In addition to the registry, an accompanying resolution, scheduled  for a vote next month, would require animal shelters and those who sell animals to check an individual’s identity on the registry and prohibit them from adopting or selling to anyone found on it.

The ALDF website ExposeAnimalAbusers.org  provides extensive information about registry bills, and allows concerned citizens to contact their own legislators in support of abuser registries. Such registries will help protect animals, pet guardians and communities by preventing repeat offenses from anyone with an established history of abusing animals.
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