As of January 1st, Tennessee became the first state to have an animal abuse registry. Legislators in a number of other states, including Connecticut, California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are also considering their own statewide registries.

Although the specifics vary between the states, the basic way that an animal abuse registry works is that anyone convicted of animal abuse would have their name, address and photograph put on a computerized list. First-time offenders would be on the list for two years and second-time offenders for five years. This list would then be available to breeders, shelters, and stores so that they can check it before sending an animal home with someone. If a merchant does not check the list before a sale or knowingly gives an animal to someone on the list, they would be held responsible.



It is wonderful that these states are taking action to help ensure that animals are kept out of known abusers' hands, but what will stop an animal abuser from traveling to a state without a registry? The only sure way to keep our animals safe is to make sure that a known abuser can't buy or adopt an animal in any state. So please sign this petition urging Congress to create a national animal abuse registry.