Steuben County lawmakers want to publicly name people convicted of animal cruelty, following a path other counties have already taken, according to Spectrum News 1.
The proposal would create an online animal abuser registry run by the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, listing county residents convicted of qualifying abuse crimes after the law takes effect. Supporters say the goal is accountability, prevention, and giving shelters better screening tools.
The measure still faces committee review. Lawmakers note more than 20 New York counties already use similar registries, though the state has no single database.
Closer to home, Cayuga County recently launched a comparable registry, signaling a growing regional push to curb repeat animal abuse.
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