ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – An Animal Abuse Registry may be in Tompkins County’s future.
Some neighboring counties have recently adopted local laws aimed at curbing animal abuse and punishing offenders, including Cayuga County late last year and Steuben County earlier this month.
The laws differ slightly, but under Cayuga County’s law, convicted abusers must register with local law enforcement and are banned from adopting or purchasing animals within the county. Additionally, the names of offenders appear in the registry. First-timers are listed on the registry for 15 years, and repeat offenders remain on the list for life.
Proponents say a registry increases public safety and allows easier information sharing between law enforcement and animal shelters. However, because the law only prohibits acquiring new pets or farm animals within the county, broader adoption would better serve its core purpose.
Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne tells 607NewsNow his office has already held multiple meetings and is ready and willing to move forward with the registry, adding they’re at the stage where they need to discuss the adoption of a local law with the Tompkins County Legislature.
Osborne says it would be fairly easy to collect conviction information from the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office/local courts, and it could then be added to the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office Transparency Portal.
