Registry proposed for animal cruelty felons
 

Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, has introduced a bill in the Texas State House that would require people convicted of animal cruelty to register with local law enforcement and have their names added to a statewide database, similar to the state's sex offender registry.
Animal advocates said a central database would be helpful to law enforcement. This bill would apply only to individuals who have been convicted of abusing domestic animals, not livestock, and includes a clause that identified dogfighting as an offense that would land someone in the registry.
It will probably be a long battle, but any thing that can protect animals is helpful.

What a wonderful first step. I hope all the states get on board. :thumbup:

:thumbup::thumbup:
Great half step....they end up in a registry.....and THEN what? Part B of this Bill would outline severe punitive recourse for offenders to face. They end up in a database, and then nothing happens....so I guess this is a great half step, but until they start putting teeth in these laws and bills, they are wasting their time.

Fred gets caught setting a cat on fire...he is looked up and he is in the "database" as an habitual animal cruelty offender. Now, what do we do wit5h Fred? He is fined $200.00 and told to be a good boy and stop doing that to poor kitties, and he is sent on his way. He does fine for a year, offends again, is fined another $200.00, sentenced to a probated 3 months, and sent on his way.

Mandated jail sentences and MUCH larger fines would be a great START. In a society that will not keep people that rob and steal and sell dope to kids, in jail because these are considered victimless crimes since no one dies, and keeping in mind animals are nothing but "property", it is going to be a real victory for some lawmaker to come up with a mandated harsh punishment for people that slap a dog/cat/pet around, or even kill it. Some guy tied a donkey to the bumper or his truck and he was dragging the donkey home just last week....he was stopped, animal control came and got the poor donkey, who amazingly enough was NOT seriously injured, and I am not sure anything was done to the man.....yet. Of course, the donkey would be considered livestock and would not be covered by this bill.

I so hope this goes through.

It's a start in the right direction. Pray it goes through.

I agree a start in the right direction. Love to see it nationwide. Canada too.

I wonder how effective this will be.

Here is the latest from New York. it was on the news last night and again this morning. Two people were arrested and face misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Big Whoop! That means nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Then back to business as usual.
Breaks my heart. Any small step is a step in the right direction.
NYPD, ASPCA rescue 10 Yorkies from SoHo puppy mill | New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV

As an ex-NY'er The Bronx, yay NYPD. Maybe just a slap on the wrist and possible $ fine, but, the pups were removed, breeders made no $ off these precious babies, these ppl will be watched, maybe even put out of business.