Individuals listed on the animal abuse registry in Suffolk County, New York, will now be subject to penalties if they are found to have animal companions, according to the New York Post.
County lawmakers approved a measure making it a Class A misdemeanor for convicted animal abusers to have animal companions, with a potential penalty of up to 364 days of jail time and a fine of up to $10,000.
“Do not abuse animals,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. “We will go after you, and we will prosecute you, and we will protect our animals.”
Suffolk County created one of the nation’s first animal abuse registries in 2010, requiring offenders to stay on the list for 10 years and banning them from having animal companions during that time. However, the previous County code did not penalize violators of this ban.
“We often hear about cases of animal abuse in the news, and it’s sickening to witness,” said Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, the bill’s sponsor. “Animals cannot advocate for themselves, so our elected officials must speak up on their behalf.”
This new legislation also comes on the heels of “Operation Bloodhound,” a Suffolk County initiative aimed at enforcing laws and court orders in animal cruelty cases.
Animal companions in Suffolk County will now be shielded from living with known abusers, potentially reducing their risk of being harmed, neglected, or even killed.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to Suffolk County lawmakers for holding convicted abusers accountable and protecting vulnerable animals. We hope that more jurisdictions follow the example set by Suffolk County to better protect animals from harm.
