Suffolk County Considering "Pet Abuser Registry"

Suffolk Legislator Jon Cooper sponsored the bill, saying, "There’s nothing more horrendous and nothing more cowardly than abuse a child or abuse against a pet. That’s what we’re doing here today.”

The registry would work much in the same way it does for sex offenders: Anyone convicted of crimes against animals, including dog fighting, torturing, starving, or injuring a pet, will have their name, address, and alias included on the list for five years.

During that time, the public will be able to find out the names of abusers in their area and the abuser will not be allowed to purchase or adopt a pet.

And Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross argued that there’s a strong link between animal abuse and a predilection toward domestic violence.