For years, one man reportedly tortured and killed his wife's animals – allegedly drowning her puppy, abusing her rabbits and guinea pigs, and openly admitting to harming animals. Somehow, no meaningful safeguards stopped him from getting more pets.
Then, in 2023, he murdered his wife in what prosecutors described as a "twisted and barbaric" attack, cutting her body into more than 200 pieces. Her family believes the warning signs were there all along. If someone took his animal abuse seriously, it's possible this murder could have been prevented.
Sign the petition to urge Parliament to pass Holly's Law and stop known animal abusers from acquiring more pets.
Research has repeatedly shown that animal cruelty is often linked to escalating violence, including domestic abuse. Abusers may use violence against animals to intimidate, manipulate, and control people who love those animals. And yet, shelters, breeders, rescue groups, and pet retailers often have no way of knowing whether someone seeking an animal has a documented history of cruelty. That has to change.
A confidential animal abuse registry could help stop repeat offenders from obtaining more animals and help identify dangerous patterns before violence escalates further.
This registry should not be public. Instead, it should be accessible only to animal shelters, rescue organizations, breeders, veterinarians, and pet retailers - the people responsible for placing animals into homes or recognizing warning signs of abuse.
When someone applies to adopt or purchase an animal, organizations could quickly check whether that person has a documented history of cruelty.
Sign the petition now to urge Parliament to pass Holly's Law, create a confidential animal abuse registry, and take animal cruelty seriously before more violence escalates.
