By GALTime.com Staff
Would you support an animal abuse registry in your state?
A move is underway in several states to create animal abuse registries. In California, lawmakers are considering legislation that would require any adult convicted of felony animal abuse to register with local law enforcement. Their names would be logged into a database similar to the national sex offenders' registry and would be accessible to the public. California isn't alone. New York, Tennessee and Louisiana are also considering animal abuse registries. Rhode Island and Colorado have introduced similar registry bills in the past.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund is spearheading the national movement. "Animal abuse is not only a danger to our cats, dogs, horses, and other animals, but also to people," said Stephen Wells, Executive Director of the ALDF. "Many animal abusers have a history of domestic violence or other criminal activity, and there is a disturbing trend of animal abuse among our country's most notorious serial killers.... But it's not just about how animal abusers end up also hurting or killing humans, it should be motivation enough to protect our animals from repeat offenders - and any abuse of any kind."
The ALDF has posted the names and records of several convicted animal abusers on its website.
CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE NAMES OF OFFENDERS.
Would you want to know if a convicted animal abuser was living in your neighborhood?
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