Lawmakers push for plan to create animal-abuser registry

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A group of lawmakers is working on a plan to prevent animal abusers in Florida from offending again.

The plan includes implanting a sex-offender type registry for people who hurt animals.

“If you’ve been convicted of an animal crime, we certainly don’t want you coming here,” said Steve Bardy, of the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers put together a bill that blocks animal abusers from adopting or buying animals in Florida.

Marion County recently enacted Molly’s Law, named after a dog whose abuser tried to adopt another animal after serving time.

“I think it’s easy for people to support. I just think the context behind it probably needs a little more tweaking to it,” said Bardy.

He wished it added more possibilities for prosecution.

“There aren’t a lot of people who are convicted of those crimes, so there probably needs to be some strengthening of that portion,” Bardy said.

Mayor Teresa Jacobs said she’s like to see it used in Orange County.

“We don’t want to ever adopt an animal out and find out that we put them into an abusive situation,” said Jacobs.

Lawmakers haven’t decided how the database would be funded or who would run it.

But Tenneessee may have figured it out by posting its animal abuse registry online.

“We know what we need to do, and it’s make sure that bad people are not adopting good animals,” Jacobs said.

Cox Media Group