March 2010

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.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to ensure convicted animal abusers are exposed and prevented from harming new victims by promoting model legislation that would establish an animal abuser registry in every community across America.

Go to ExposeAnimalAbusers.org to sign the petition and demand that your state require animal abusers to register in their communities!

ALDF's proposed abuser registry legislation would require mandatory registration and community notification for convicted animal abusers. These laws would make a dramatic difference in keeping offenders away from potential new victims by allowing animal shelters and humane societies to more thoroughly screen potential adopters-and by alerting the public to their whereabouts.

California Senator Dean Florez has announced that he will be sponsoring abuser registry legislation this session-a bill that he's developed in close collaboration with ALDF experts. “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,” Florez said. “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.”    

Animal abuse is not only a danger to our cats, dogs, horses, and other animals, but also to people. 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.

Keep your animals and your families safe. Watch ALDF’s video and demand that your legislators establish an animal abuser registry in your state!