California lawmakers could soon treat animal abusers like sex offenders under a new proposal.
Names, addresses, and workplaces of abusers, among other things, would go on an online registry as part of Senate Bill 1277 proposed by State Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, who represents the state's 16th district.*
"We think this is just the next step in terms of making sure California is at the forefront of animal protection," said Senator Florez while presenting the bill on Feb. 22.
Some of the bill's highlights are:
any person, over 18 years of age, convicted of felony animal abuse would be required to register with the appropriate law enforcement agency
any person required to register who violates any provision would be guilty of a misdemeanor, and if the person willfully fails to register, he or she would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by not less than 90 days and not more than one year in a county jail
The bill, on or before January 1, 2012, would require the department to make available information, concerning persons who are required to register as a result of felony animal abuse convictions, to the public via an Internet Web site
require a person who purchased pet food to pay an unspecified charge per pound to be collected by the store at the time of sale.
While extreme cases of animal cruelty can result in a felony conviction, David Saunders, Executive Director of the Animal Samaritans in Thousand Palms, said more needs to be done.
"Animal abuse is taken too lightly," Saunders said.
The primary focus of the bill surrounded the creation of a website that many compared to the website, Megan's Law, which provides names, addresses, and the crimes sex offenders were convicted of doing.
This bill would create a similar website, but for animal abusers.
"This bill specifically would say any person over 18 years of age convicted of felony animal abuse would have to register with local law enforcement," according to Florez.
Perry Strebel, a local dog owner, agrees with the idea of a bill.
"I think there are too many animals, dogs and cats, that are abused. People should be allowed to know who the people are that are doing that to them [abusing them]."
Other pet owners like David Portener said, "I own a dog. I would hate for anything to happen to my dog. But obviously the priorities in Sacramento need to be on jobs and the economy right now."
One hurdle that lawmakers could face regarding the bill is funding the website. Under the bill, a new tax would have to be imposed on pet food, which is estimated to be 2 or 3 cents per pound of food.
Senator Florez said any extra money generated from the pet food fee would go towards assisting spay and neuter efforts in the state.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) has helped Senator Florez to publicize and draft the bill, and has launched a website and video (seen below) to as part of national campaign to get communities to enact legislation similar to SB 1277 for animal abusers.
The ALDF has also launched an online petition in support of animal rights legislation, which can be found by clicking here.
*California's 16th District is comprised of cities and communities from the Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties.
In addition to the website, the ALDF has created a video in support of their cause, which can be seen below. WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES OF ALLEGED ANIMAL ABUSE.
