California Bill Proposes State-wide Animal Abuse Registry

 

A bill unveiled on Friday February 19, 2010 proposes the creation of an animal abuse registry in California. If the bill passes, California would become the first state in the nation to establish a registry of this type.

The bill would require anyone convicted of a felony involving animal cruelty to register with the police and provide personal information including a current photograph, current address and employment information. That information, along with the person’s offense, would be available on line. State Senate majority leader Dean Florez proposed the bill, which was drafted with help from the Cotati-based Animal Legal Defense Fund . That organization has launched a national campaign, Expose Animal Abusers , to urge lawmakers in every state to establish animal abuse registries.

Supporters of the bill believe that creation of the registry would help protect animals from violence by alerting the public to convicted animal cruelty offenders, and ensuring that rescues and shelters avoid adopting animals to such offenders. The proposed registry would make it easier to track those who run puppy mills, animal fighting rings, and animal hoarders.

Registry proponents also argue that it would also increase public safety. There’s a known link between violence towards animals and violence towards humans. In addition, other criminal ventures such as gambling and drug activities are often present at or connected to dog-fighting rings and venues.

If the bill passes, the registry would be funded by a small tax on pet food. Supporters estimate that the registry would cost less than $1 million to establish.

Opponents of the bill raise interesting points for consideration. Would the registry violate privacy rights of listed offenders? Should someone who’s been convicted of an animal cruelty felony be “branded” permanently in society? Might the registry encourage offenders to plead to lesser offenses to avoid being included on the registry? Would the registry spawn a vigilante mindset against registered offenders?

This bill is sure to generate plenty of public debate and it’s anyone guess at this point as to whether it will pass. One thing is certain – the bill is another step on the long road to affording more legal rights and protections to animals in California.

To learn more about the ALDF’s Expose Animal Abusers campaign and to sign the petition, go to: http://www.aldf.org/article.php?id=1238.

Flickr Photo Credit: Steve Snyder Photography

Lisa-Anne Manolius is the multi- talented owner/trainer of Oh Behave! in San Francisco. A graduate of the S.F. SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers and U.C. Berkeley's Boalt School of Law, she's available for dog behavior consultations, private training sessions, and to teach a variety of group classes. She can be reached at lisaohbehave@gmail.com.