The Albany County (New York) Legislature established an animal abuser registry, making it the third county in New York (and in the entire entire nation) to pass such a law. In the past year, Suffolk County, New York and Rockland County, New Yorkapproved similar legislation.
The publicly accessible registries allow communities to track the whereabouts of convicted animal abusers and prevent those offenders from acquiring new animals. The law applies to misdemeanor and felony convictions for animal cruelty, animal fighting, sexual abuse of an animal and harming service or police animals. Offenders remain on the registry for ten years following the first offense and for life following any subsequent offenses.
Offenders who fail to register are guilty of a criminal misdemeanor and may be incarcerated for up to one year and fined up to $1,000. Any person or group selling, offering for adoption or otherwise transferring animals must check the registry to ensure that the potential owner is not listed on it. Failure to check the registry is a violation punishable by a fine of $5,000.
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