Bill aims to create animal abuse registry in Arizona to protect animals from further abuse
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Cases of animal abuse are on the rise and a case in Chandler where dozens of dogs were seized from a woman’s home in deplorable conditions shed light on the growing problem.
State lawmakers introduced a number of bills to try and prevent those kinds of cases, including a bill that could force convicted animal abusers to register online.
Anyone convicted of animal cruelty, fighting or bestiality would need to register with law enforcement within a week of conviction.
Their name, photo and address would be added to a public registry in hopes of preventing any repeat offenders.
“It allows people who are closest to the animal rescue community to be the gatekeepers,” said Debra Nolan, a lobbyist and founder of Don’t Leave Me, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates the public about the dangers of hot cars.
Nolan helped craft Senate Bill 1072 and says the goal is to make sure pets get into loving homes by helping rescues or people selling animals identify buyers who could be convicted of animal cruelty.
“You’d have to check it if you’re going to rescue, adopt or sell a dog,” said Nolan.
Abusers would need to register with DPS within five days of being convicted. First-time offenders would be on the registry for five years, while repeat offenders would be listed for 10. “The Department of Public Safety would be designated to keep track of this,” she said.
If someone knowingly sells or adopts an animal to someone on the registry, they would face a $250 fine. “It doesn’t apply to retail stores. It’s highly unlikely abusers would walk into a pet store and pay $2,000 for a puppy,” Nolan said.
She says a registry tracking animal abuse could serve a greater purpose in documenting the criminal history of abusers, but it’s still not clear who in the public will have access to that information. “You might have problems and so that mental health, we don’t want to exacerbate their issues or the issues of the families,” said Nolan.
If the bill passes, it wouldn’t go into effect until 2025. It has passed a committee but still needs to be approved by the Arizona Senate before heading to the House.
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