As a published author and retired educator who headlined national and international equine expositions, worked with wildlife rehabilitation Raise and Release programs, a pet owner, and an animal lover, I am trying to establish Animal-Abuser Registries here in Florida counties in hopes that other counties will follow suit, eventually leading to a statewide Animal Abuser Registry Law. States Look to
Establish Online Animal Abuser Registries
A 2010 movement that started in Suffolk County, N. is spreading across the country. Its goal: to require animal abusers to sign up for online registries, much like those required for s*x offenders. The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals was the first in the country to set up an online registry in 2010, where convicted animal abusers of misdemeanors and felonies must register their name and aliases, a photo, description of any tattoos, scars, or other distinguishing features, current address, and the offense for which the abuser was convicted for ten years as well as pay a $50 per year fee. These funds are used to pay the administrative cost of maintaining the registry. Any person required to register, or update his/her registration with the animal abuser registry who fails to do so will be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. To date, New York has established 12 county level abuser registries in Suffolk, Nassau, Albany, Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Sullivan, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Ulster, Onondaga, and, Broome, with New York City having their own working registry. In most New York counties, the County Sheriff, or his/her designee is authorized, empowered, and directed to establish and maintain an Animal Abuser Registry. The years a convicted abuser remains on the registry varies from county to county, as does the additional years spent on the registry if the abuser is a repeat offender. After the convicted animal abuser has remained on the registry for the allocated time, his or her name and identifying information would be removed. Some New York county animal abuser registries make it mandatory for pet dealers, rescues, shelters, pounds, and humane societies to check the animal abuser registry to see if the prospective consumer is a registered animal abuser. Failure to do so would be a violation or class A misdemeanor. Although New York State fought hard for a statewide animal abuser registry, the bill failed to pass. They are continuing their efforts to establish county level registries, to show State Legislators their intent for a state registry. Tennessee is one of 27 states that considered legislation to create animal-abuse registries since 2010. In April of 2015 Tennessee passed the first statewide Animal Abuser Registry. Governor Bill Haslam signed the bill into law and the animal-abuser registry was available online starting January 1, 2016. It will list those who have been convicted of aggravated animal cruelty, felony animal fighting, and be******ty offenses. The site will list the abuser’s full legal name and photo for 2 years. If the abuser is convicted again, the offender will remain on the registry for five additional years. However, the Tennessee state animal abuser registry is far from perfect and desperately needs to evolve. In December of 2016, Michigan passed a collective legislation package called Logan's Law, but it is not a true working Animal Abuser Registry. Additional senate bills 219 and 220 will be reintroduced in 2017 by dedicated and determined Logan's Law advocates. When these are passed it will complete the collective package that will prevent convicted animal abusers from adopting animals, but many loopholes still exist. When our state Legislature fails us, we DO have a moral duty and obligation to act locally in our counties. Illinois had proposed its Animal Abuser Registry Bill last year. When it failed at state level, Cook County, which encompasses Chicago, fired back by passing the very first County level Animal Abuser Registry Ordinance in Illinois. Cuyahoga County, Ohio established the first Animal Abuser Registry ordinance in their state.
“DEXTER’S LAW,” Florida Senator Mike Fasano’s proposed 2010 legislation, set the same parameters as the Suffolk County and Maryland’s bills. Fasano said that he received an overwhelming positive response from his constituents and he believes it is an issue that should be handled on a state–by-state level. Senator Fasano named his bill after Dexter, a seven-week-old black and white kitten that was viciously beaten with aluminum baseball bats by Wilana Frazier and her two children in a local Hernando County public park. Near death, Dexter was rescued by other children in the park and brought to Animal Services. Pet Luv was nursing him back to health. Unfortunately, 2 months later the kitten’s condition worsened and he had to be euthanized. Dexter’s Law failed to gain any momentum and died at state level in 2012. To date in Florida, I and many other dedicated Animal Abuser Registry supporters worked tirelessly to pass 2 county level abuser registry ordnances…Hillsborough on 9/8/2016, with Marion County’s Molly’s Law - our Animal Abuser Registry, passing unanimously on 10/4/2016. Other Florida counties are showing great interest and we hope to create a domino effect across the Sunshine State. Despite Dexter's Law's failure at state level in 2012, our ultimate goal has always been a statewide registry. Our state Legislators must realize that animals are only the first in line of many victims. When animals are abused, people are at risk...when people are abused, animals are at risk. It is imperative that we address those found guilty of animal cruelty crimes before they escalate to human offenses. Our courts must aggressively penalize animal abusers and they must be monitored by law enforcement on animal abuser registries! With an ever growing animal cruelty crisis in the Sunshine State our efforts should be in the direction of passing a Statewide Abuser Registry. Until that day comes, I and many others will continue our crusade to establish local animal abuser registry ordinances to protect vulnerable county residents, our animals and the community from the self perpetuating cycle of violence that most animal abusers tend to follow. Together we can pass the word to countless others, enlighten Legislators and County Commissioners, and united we can become one booming voice for defenseless living beings. Let us expose the truth, educate others, raise the bar for the welfare of animals and prevent and reduce their pain, fear, and suffering! Remember, a society is judged by the way it treats those who are most vulnerable, and the creation of Animal Abuser Registries sends a strong message that all God’s creatures deserve protection from torture and abuse. Linda Little Wolf – Voice for the Voiceless
