State-Wide Registry for Animal Abusers, Proposed in California

[lil fu fu girl]

Animal abusers may think twice once California establishes the first felony animal abuser registry in the United States. Other states are considering to follow the example.

California is preparing to be an example for other states looking to lower the number of felony animal abusers. To this they are proposing a registry of those who have been convicted of animal abuse and were charged with a felony. The idea came from the well-known and widely used, sex offender registries and databases.
The purpose of the proposed registry is to alert communities, law enforcement and pet adoption agencies that animal abusers are in the area. The information would be made public with names, addresses and other information pertaining to the person.
Liza Franzetta of Animal Legal Defense Fund has this to say in an interview with Fox News:

In part, it's an attempt to give law enforcement a heads up when people like this are in their communities, so they can cut off problems at the pass.

The cost of the program is estimated between $500,000 and $1 Million to set up and make functional. The annual cost to maintain it is thought to be around $65,000. Most people are asking where the money is coming from. As with many good legal ideas, the tax payers, however, this bill is taking a different approach. Pet food would go up a few cents a pound and animal abusers would have to pay more harsh fines.
As will all politics, there are those that appose the idea because of taxes. Some are staying that it "unfairly" taxes pet owners. Not all pet owners are bad people or cruel to animals so not everyone should have to pay into the animal abuser registry.
Kassandra Garcia

[Nancy1999]

Don't know much about the bill, but I don't understand why pet owners would bare the responsibility for funding it. I mean this isn't going to make much difference if you own a small breed, but larger breed dog owners are already paying a premium. Come to think of it, it wouldn't affect those who home cook or feed raw, only those who buy dog food. I think the gubernator should wake up and realize that people who abuse animals also hurt people; animal abusers should not work in nursing homes around children or anywhere else where the victims are unlikely to complain. I say huge fines for being conficted of being involved in any way with dog fighting. Gee, I wonder why that won't have a chance of passing.

[DvlshAngel985]

Honestly, I wouldn't mind paying a few cents more for Kaji's food. Pay a little now, make responsible breeders and rescues know who not to hand one of their pups over too. And I'm assuming that bad breeders that abuse dogs by not giving them proper living will be on that list as well. At least I hope so. Off to do some research!

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Don't know much about the bill, but I don't understand why pet owners would bare the responsibility for funding it. I mean this isn't going to make much difference if you own a small breed, but larger breed dog owners are already paying a premium. Come to think of it, it wouldn't affect those who home cook or feed raw, only those who buy dog food. I think the gubernator should wake up and realize that people who abuse animals also hurt people; animal abusers should not work in nursing homes around children or anywhere else where the victims are unlikely to complain. I say huge fines for being conficted of being involved in any way with dog fighting. Gee, I wonder why that won't have a chance of passing.

From your mouth to God's ears!

[lil fu fu girl]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

Honestly, I wouldn't mind paying a few cents more for Kaji's food. Pay a little now, make responsible breeders and rescues know who not to hand one of their pups over too. And I'm assuming that bad breeders that abuse dogs by not giving them proper living will be on that list as well. At least I hope so. Off to do some research!

I regularly give to charitable foundations, so giving that extra little bit through taxes on pet food would not bother me either. I would be willing to try anything to get these thugs identified and fined.