PETITION TO REQUIRE ANIMAL ABUSE REGISTRY IN WASHINGTON

Animal abuse registries are intended to provide a resource for police, shelters and adoption centers to identify convicted animal abusers who are trying to adopt or purchase an animal, or who are involved in new allegations of abuse.

Animal abuse registries, which are modeled on registries kept for convicted sex offenders, have gained popularity across the country. Legislation in some states makes the information on the registries available only to law enforcement and animal control and shelter facilities’ personnel. Other state bills allow access for members of the public as well. Access to this information is crucial in keeping companion animals out of the hands of people with a record of abuse, cruelty or neglect.

While many states have proposed the adoption of an animal abuse registry — including New York State — it remains a struggle to convince lawmakers and law enforcement officials that it is worth the time and money to implement a database of statewide offenders. A national database has also been considered by animal advocacy groups, but this undertaking would rely on the voluntary compliance of thousands of individual police and sheriffs’ departments from around the country.

Please sign and show support for Washington to follow the lead of Tennessee and implement an animal abuse registry.