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Animal Abuser Registries - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!
To several states where bills have been introduced to create animal abuser registries.

Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington have all introduced bills to establish animal abuser registries.

NHES supports legislation that will create animal abuser registries for those convicted of felony animal abuse or who committed certain violent offenses against animals. The registries, modeled after sex offender and arson registries, would collect and publish the names of individuals who have been convicted of animal abuse within the state. If an offender moves to a state with such a registry, he or she would have to register with police within days of moving. Such registries can include the offender’s name, aliases, address, place of employment, nature of the offense, and photo. Such information would be posted online.

Keeping track of animal abusers would help protect not just the animals of a community but the humans as well. Animal cruelty poses a definite risk to a community and society as a whole. Intentional animal cruelty is of particular concern as it is a sign of psychological distress and often indicates an individual may be predisposed to committing acts of violence toward humans. Maintaining a registry of individuals convicted of felony animal cruelty will help protect the animals and humans of a state where such a registry exists.

Take Action: If you are a resident of these states, please contact your legislators urging them to support bills creating an animal abuser registry. If you are not a resident of these states and your state does not have such legislation, contact your legislators urging them to introduce legislation creating an animal abuser registry.

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12 responses to “Animal Abuser Registries”

  1. Rebecca says:

    Why do we not have an animal abuser registry in nebraska. I was told there was..

    • nhesadmin says:

      Hi Rebecca,

      Currently the only state with a statewide animal abuse registry is Tennessee. But please speak with your congressmen and plead with your governor to establish one in your own state!

  2. Since 2021, did NYS get an animal abuse registry?

  3. Ally says:

    If only the people that make laws would enforce it everywhere that’d be great. Here in south texas I see a lot of animals go unfed and the police pass by not doing anything about it.

  4. Nixie says:

    How can I get my state to do a register?

  5. Cindy Plano says:

    Please email me we need to get a bill for the state of texas .

    • Hello Cindy, every year we send out a petition to our supporters concerning the need for statewide animal abuser registries. We ask our supporters to sign the petition and mail them back to us. Then we mail them to the governors. Do you receive our mailings? I will email you the details. Thank you for your care.

  6. Dorothy Cassidy says:

    Hi .. looking for an animal abuser registry for California, specifically San Jose CA. I can’t find one or any current information on any form of status. Can you advise?

    • Hi Dorothy,

      California does not currently have an animal abuser registry. However, we do urge you to contact your local representatives and ask them to put an animal abuser registry in place.

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