Federal Registry of Youth and Adult Animal Abusers.

In a few words: Michael Vick, Patrick the Pitbull, and 4 baby owls ruthlessly murdered in California.  Every day, it seems like there are horrific stories in the news about animals being killed using brutal means, or not taken care of properly.   At the same time, when we hear about serial killings, domestic violence, and other kinds of crimes against humans, many perpetrators started out as animal abusers in their childhood and  teen years.   It is time to create a national registry of animal abusers so that these people do not gain access to other animals. 

Over the last few months, I have also noticed an extremely disturbing trend when it comes to youths killing and maiming animals. For example, just a few days ago, 4 baby owls were bludgeoned to death by two 17 year old boys  (this link is a petition for the owls - please sign and leave your feedback!!) .  If you do some research, yo will find that youths who commit violence against animals grow up to become abusers of human beings.  This is extremely important to consider when it comes to creating a national registry of animal offenders.  Among other things, lack of a searchable directory creates the following problems:

• Universities and other facilities that conduct laboratory experiments on animals (something I, and many find unethical)  cannot adequately determine suitability of student aides or research candidates.  The lack of a federal and fully accesible database of youth and adult animal abusers also makes it impossible to assess ethical suitability of students for acceptance into a wide range of academic programs; in part because youth criminal records are sealed.

• Any facility (for example zoos, animal shelters, and pet stores)  that works with animals for any reason will not be able to conduct an adequate background check to find out if a past history of animal abuse would open them to a wide range of liabilities, not to mention suffering of animals in these locations.

• Medical training programs, nursing homes, and other medical settings can easily become targets of predators that would have been weeded out if a history of animal abuse during youth years was available.

• Schools and other agencies dedicated to public or humanitarian services are left vulnerable to individuals that may be steadily progressing towards the kind of horrific and shocking violence that make us cringe each time the news stories come out.

While I respect the fact that every person deserves to build a new life, we cannot ignore the fact that the tendency to abuse animals does not go away, nor does it stop at that level.   Recently, I learned that bill S2439 would have created a registry similar to what I am asking for.   Unfortunately, this vital issue was not addressed in a timely manner, and the bill must be reintroduced. 

I am making a personal appeal today on the behalf of millions of animals that suffer at the hands of repeat abusers, as well as innocent human beings that wind up in the presence of these predators without the kind of vital information that they need to protect themselves.  As we have a national registry for sex offenders, we should also have one for animal abusers.  I am asking for, at the very least, to reintroduce bill S2439, and if possible, to expand it to include youth offenders, so that our human and animal citizens can all be safer.