Rensselaer County Dems float animal cruelty registry
Law would prevent sale of pets, livestock to convicted abusers
The Rensselaer County Legislature’s Democratic minority wants to create a county registry to prevent people convicted of animal cruelty from owning other animals.
The proposed law comes after the North Greenbush police on Jan. 26 removed 174 animals, including livestock, cats and dogs, from the town’s last farm where they were allegedly neglected.
Rensselaer County would join 20 other counties across the state in creating an animal abuse registry. Albany County is one of the counties with such a registry having created it in 2011.
“This legislation will establish an online registry for individuals who are convicted of animal abuse and neglect. It is in the best interest of our residents and their animals that an online registry be established identifying individuals, living in Rensselaer County,” Minority Leader Peter Grimm, D-troy, said in a statement issued Tuesday.
The district attorney’s office, the sheriff ’s office and the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society worked together in drafting the proposed law.
The full County Legislature would take the bill up at its March meeting.
The proposed law states that those convicted of animal cruelty would not be able to adopt, purchase, or otherwise obtain animals “from any animal shelter, pet seller, or other person or entity involved in the exchange of animals by adoption, sale, or other means.”
“This registry will send a clear message that Rensselaer County will not tolerate animal cruelty. More so, statistics show that those who abuse animals are more likely to commit violent acts against humans, this will serve as added protection against these crimes,” said Legislator Carole Weaver, Dtroy, who began working on the law immediately after the incident in North Greenbush.
The law calls for any person convicted of animal abuse to be fined up to $1,000 and face a misdemeanor jail sentence of up to one year if they do not register. Any animal shelter, pet seller or individual will be required to check the registry before selling or giving an animal away and could be fined up to $5,000 for transferring an animal to anyone listed on the registry.
“We are all committed to establishing this necessary and worthwhile program that will protect our animals and block abusers from continuing such cruelty,” said District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly.
The animals removed from the 75-acre North Greenbush farm were traumatized, according to police and animal groups. Six of the 174 animals died.
The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in High Falls removed the animals. Some livestock was sent to three area farms. The animals taken from the farm include 54 cats, 44 chickens, 34 ducks, 20 cows, 13 pigs, seven turkeys and two dogs. Three members of the family that owns the farm have been charged with five misdemeanor counts each of failure to provide sustenance to the animals, according to police. They await future court action.