Animal abusers are being registered like sex offenders in these jurisdictions

From the article: "“There are different degrees of abuse. There are offenders who intentionally kill or torture animals, or who are engaged in dogfighting. On the other end of the spectrum, there are pet owners who have an inadequate doghouse,” Shatkin said. “We wouldn’t want to paint both types of offenders with the same brush.” Hummm, animals treated better than humans!

9-13-16 Florida:

Starting in November, convicted animal abusers in the county that includes Tampa will be easier to identify. Their names, photos and addresses will be published on a county-run website that is publicly searchable and similar to the online sex offender registries that have proliferated since the 1990s.

The animal abuser registry, passed last week by commissioners in Hillsborough County, is aimed at preventing people who have harmed animals from doing so again. Retailers and shelters will be required to have prospective pet adopters or purchasers sign an affidavit saying they’re not on the registry. Regular people seeking pet-sitters or new homes for their animals will be able to vet candidates. Law enforcement officials will, at least in theory, be able to keep tabs on offenders’ whereabouts.

The county is the latest in a tiny but growing group of U.S. jurisdictions to adopt such registries. A handful of New York counties have them, as does New York City, although that one isn’t accessible to the public. Cook County, Ill., whose county seat is Chicago, recently decided to create one. Tennessee started the first statewide registry in January, although it still has just three people on its list.

“Just as we place extra trust in teachers and law enforcement, so, too, should we ensure that those engaged in the handling of animals have a spotless record,” New Jersey state Rep. Troy Singleton (D) said about legislation he sponsored to make his state home to the second statewide animal abuse registry. He referred to the idea as a “first line of defense.” ..Continued: Quite an article w/many links to similar registries.. by Karin Brulliard

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House Sends Animal Cruelty Registry Bill to Conference

5-28-2011 Texas:

The debate over whether to set up an animal cruelty registry continues.

House Bill 1103 originally required individuals convicted of animal abuse to pay a $100 fee to a nearby animal shelter. When the bill passed the Senate, some of the language was substituted to incorporate Senate Bill 779, which would set up a registry of individuals convicted of animal cruelty — similar to the sex offender registry. Changes to the bill would also allow judges to sentence offenders to take animal cruelty classes, rather than pay a fine of $100 to animal shelters, which Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, the Senate sponsor of the bill, said “holds [offenders] more accountable.”

Worried about setting up a public registry that may embarrass or stigmatize individuals convicted of animal cruelty, Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, amended the bill to ensure the animal cruelty registry would only be accessible to law enforcement officers and animal control personnel.

Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-San Benito, emphasized this point on the House floor when he tried to convince the House to concur on Senate amendments: “It sets up a list for law enforcement only.”

But Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, was not convinced. He told members SB 779 "never made it out of committee, much less the Senate floor,” and urged the House to send HB 1103 to conference in order to discuss the changes made by the Senate.

In a close vote, 63 to 78, the House agreed with Miller and sent the bill to conference. ..Source.. by Becca Aaronson

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Animal abuse registry passes Senate

5-25-2011 Texas:

Some offenders won't be allowed to adopt pets

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A bill to create an animal abuse database in Texas passed the Senate Tuesday night 25-5. However, a last-minute amendment to HB 1103 made sure the database – similar to the state's sex offender registry – only be available to police.

In addition to the registry, animal cruelty offenders must attend a responsible pet owner class. Some people would not be allowed to adopt pets either.

The bill would require people convicted of cruelty to animals, attacks on an assistance animal, cruelty to livestock, and dogfighting to be listed on the registry, which would be managed by the Department of Public Safety.

Critics in the Senate argue the bill is too harsh for people convicted of animal cruelty as opposed to sex offenders.

KXAN covered the idea for this registry significantly since last fall, when lawmakers first started working with animal advocacy groups. Law enforcement was generally on board.

Monday marks the end of the regular session, and HB 1103 must now return to the House for final approval. A similar Senate bill was left pending in committee. ..Source.. by Josh Hinkle

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