Animal Abusers Will Go On Public Offender List Under Proposed CA Law

A new bill would establish a public registry for people convicted of felony animal abuse in California.

The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D–San Francisco) on Tuesday, and similar to the Megan’s Law website for registered sex offenders, AB 2344 would create a California Animal Abuse Registry for adults convicted of felony animal abuse. It would be run by the state's Department of Justice.

The bill would require offenders to register for 10 years and would direct the California Department of Justice to create a public website by Jan. 1, 2028.

“Animals are completely dependent on us for care and protection, and when that trust is shattered through abuse, we have a moral obligation to act,” Assemblymember Haney’s officer wrote in a statement. “Animal cruelty is unacceptable. By giving shelters, rescues, and the public a tool to prevent repeat cruelty, the registry will help protect vulnerable animals and ensure California leads with both compassion and common sense.”

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This registry aims to protect animals by allowing the public, including animal shelters and rescue organizations, to search the public website for repeat offenders.

“California should be a leader in protecting animals and communities by joining Tennessee and Florida which have already implemented their registries," said Judie Mancuso, Founder and President, Social Compassion in Legislation. "Together we can help ensure that those convicted of felony animal abuse are properly tracked and that animals are better protected from repeat offenders."

Around 65 percent of U.S. households — about 85 million families — have a pet, according to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey.

Pet abuse is known to accompany domestic violence in many cases.

Of the women with pets seeking shelter at a safe house, 71% reported that their partner had harmed or killed their companion animals, according to a study on pets and domestic violence.

Fear for their pets' safety causes approximately 48% of women who own pets to delay escaping dangerous situations, according to the Animal Welfare Institute.

“Too often, animals are treated like property after they’ve been tortured, neglected, or killed,” Haney’s officer wrote in the statement. “AB 2344 says clearly that if you commit felony animal abuse, there will be lasting consequences. We have a responsibility to protect vulnerable animals and help prevent repeat cruelty before more harm is done.”

AB 2344 will be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee in the coming weeks.

For those living in Northern California, specifically the Northern region of the Bay Area, there is a one-of-a-kind organization called Ruthless Kindness, which helps survivors of domestic violence escape abusers with their pets and connects them to resources. Ruthless Kindness also helps by getting the animals vaccinated and treating medical conditions that would prevent them from getting into a shelter.

If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.