Animals in Chesapeake, Virginia, will soon have greater protection from abusers after the City Council unanimously approved the creation of a publicly accessible registry of people with felony animal cruelty convictions, according to local news.
This crucial online resource will help shelters, rescue groups, and those rehoming animals better assess prospective adopters, fosters, and volunteers.
The Chesapeake Police Department will manage it using conviction records from across Virginia, and each registry entry will include the person’s name, offense, and conviction date.
The database will be the first of its kind in Hampton Roads, making Chesapeake one of the few Virginia localities, including Henrico County, to establish one after a 2024 state law authorized local governments to create them.
Councilwoman Amanda Newins introduced the proposal, bringing experience as a former Chesapeake prosecutor who handled animal cruelty cases, as well as a foster and volunteer with local shelters.
“When you go to adopt an animal from a shelter, they have you sign just promising basically that you have never been convicted of a crime of animal cruelty,” Newins said. “And that doesn’t seem like enough.”
Newins hopes the database will eventually cover misdemeanor animal cruelty convictions and has also spoken with Virginia Beach Councilmember Michael Berlucchi about establishing a similar registry in his city.
Once it is up and running, anyone will be able to access the registry through the city’s Animal Services website.
Lady Freethinker applauds Councilwoman Newins and the rest of the Chesapeake City Council for helping shield dogs, cats, and other vulnerable animals from known abusers and hopes this move will inspire other communities in Virginia to implement their own registries.
