Expose Animal Abusers:
Set Up State Registries

FROM Expose Animal Abusers / Animal Legal Defense Fund

Sign on to demand that your state require animal abusers to register in their communities.

CONTACT

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INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Communities have good reason to be concerned about the whereabouts of animal abusers. In story after heartbreaking story, abusers repeat their violent crimes against helpless animals, and often go on to victimize people as well. Keep your animals and your families safe.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund drafted and added an "Offender Registration and Community Notification" section to ALDF’s model laws collection in 2001. It was based on the statutory equivalents dubbed "Megan's Laws" that deal with sex offenders that many, if not most, states have adopted. Colorado was the first state to follow this model concept and to introduce legislation to accomplish this goal with respect to animal abusers in 2002.

Championed by former Representative Peter Lewiss, Rhode Island introduced ALDF’s model legislation in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. A similar proposal passed the Tennessee Senate in 2008. It was reintroduced in Tennessee in 2009 by Senator Doug Jackson and Representative Janis Sontany and is still pending. In addition to pushes for this specific kind of legislation, some states already treat their sexual assault of animals crimes as sex offenses and make these offenders register on their existing sexual offender registries.

In February 2010, after close work with ALDF, California Senator Dean Florez announced that he would be sponsoring abuser registry legislation in that state.

The time is ripe for states to enact legislation requiring offender registration and community notification.

Senator Dean Florez, 16th District, California:
“We operate shelters in the hopes of giving abandoned pets a second chance at a loving home, not subjecting them to lives of continued abuse and neglect. A registry of abusers would help ensure animals are not being adopted out to convicted abusers, end the cycle of abuse and increase the likelihood of finding these pets the forever home they deserve.”

Representative Janis Sontany, 53rd District, Tennessee:
"There are so many things that need to be changed about how animals are viewed and treated by some people, the issues just keep coming up. Last year we were able to pass our Commercial Breeder Act of 2009 regrettably because there were so many puppy mills found in our state.

The need for an Animal Abuser Registry is so very much needed not only to protect animals but to protect our citizens. Everyone should know if there is an animal abuser in their community not only to protect our animals, but to also protect our children. It is a proven fact that many serial killers started out abusing animals. Also, it is important to know if there is someone in your neighborhood that fights animals not only to protect their animals but also to protect our children because at any animal fight, you will find drugs, gambling and regrettably often children are present."

Thank you for everything you do for animals!