FRANK ELTMAN FARMINGVILLE, N.Y. — You've heard of Megan's Laws, designed to keep sex offenders from striking again. Now there's a law created in the hope of preventing animal abusers from inflicting more cruelty – or moving on to human victims.
Suffolk County, on the eastern half of Long Island, moved to create the nation's first animal abuse registry this week, requiring people convicted of cruelty to animals to register or face jail time and fines.
"We know there is a very strong correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence," said Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper, the bill's sponsor. "Almost every serial killer starts out by torturing animals, so in a strange sense we could end up protecting the lives of people."
The online list will be open to the public, so that pet owners or the merely curious can find out whether someone living near them is on it. Some animal abusers have been known to steal their neighbors' pets.
Cooper is also pushing legislation that would bar anyone on the registry from buying or adopting a pet from a shelter, pet shop or breeder.
Camille Suzanne snoozin' in her basket that is tied to a simmerin' radiator |
Animal welfare activists hope the law, passed unanimously Tuesday in the suburban New York City county of 1.5 million people, will inspire governments nationwide in the same way Megan's Law registries for child molesters have proliferated in the past decade.
A spokesman for county Executive Steve Levy said he intends to sign the legislation. It then requires a six-month review by state officials before it goes on the books, said the spokesman, Dan Aug.
As Fred Surbito took his Yorkshire terrier, Sasha, in for grooming at a Farmingville pet store this week, he applauded the legislation.
Mr. Scout and his favorite nappin' spot |
More than a dozen states have introduced legislation to establish similar registries, but Suffolk County is the first government entity to pass such a law, said Stephan Otto, director of legislative affairs for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will administer the database, to be funded by a $50 fee paid by convicted abusers. All abusers 18 or older must supply authorities with their address, a head-and-shoulders photograph and any aliases. Convicted abusers will remain on the registry for five years. Those failing to register face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Grand-dogs Cody 'n Suzie as babies two years ago |
While some abuse is motivated purely by cruelty, Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said, some recent cases are linked to the poor economy.
For instance, an emaciated Doberman mix was recently found near death inside a foreclosed-on home, he said. And sometimes, pet rescuer Cathy Mulnard said, elderly people on fixed incomes must decide between eating, or feeding their pets.
"They don't mean to be bad to the animal, but they get overwhelmed and don't know how to ask for help. They may be innocent abusers," said Mulnard, a founder and co-director of Second Chance Rescue, a Suffolk animal shelter that works closely with the SPCA.
Mulnard called the legislation "a godsend for the animals."
"We take care of our animals and love our animals the way you do your children," she said. "We need to protect every animal that's out there because they don't make the decisions in their life; human beings do."
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Associated Press researcher Monika Mathur in New York contributed to this report.
12 comments:
Woo hoo! That's us. I mean, I live in Suffolk County. It's shocking to see a good law like that passed here. Not that we have worse laws than average. It's just that we never seem to get anywhere legislatively, just like most places. And Steve Levy is usually a bit of a stick in the mud. Good for everyone this time.
lotsa licks, Lola
I hope this great idea catching on nation-wide!!!!
Hugs and belly rubs to Scout and Freyja,
~K and The Pups
I really hope that catches on everywhere. What that one woman did is so unspeakable and heartbreaking to me. How anyone can take a dog or cat or any creature and abuse it or torture it just makes me so sick.
I love the pictures! Camille Suzanne sure looks very comfortable and Scout does too! That's the way it should be!!
Lots of love, Debbie and Holly
That is just so wrong - buying animals just to kill them. I hope this law gets widespread!
This legislation will be such a Godsend. An abuser was recently given a slap on the wrist in AR despite having been convicted in MO earlier and told to have no more dogs. YES - thanks for sharing. Here in MO, we are debating Prop. B. I need to know if it will supercede our current ACFA law or be an adjunct; that will decide my vote.
I really hope this legislationg gets off the ground! What a great thing that would be!
All their names should be on the news along with their pictures
Benny & Lily
I am so excited about this :)
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/
Hope this law passes all around. :)
We hope this law gets passed everywhere tooo,, and we agree with Benny and Lilly,,, their photos should be plastered everywhere
xoxoxoox
It's a start. We need to get animal cruelty taken seriously and that includes getting rid of puppy mills.
Thanks for filling us in on this story. I don't like to even think about animal abuse but it's out there and sure needs to be stopped. The connection to domestic abuse and violence towards other people is also huge. Hopefully legislation like this can help crack down and prevent abuse towards both pets and people.
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