Ontario County leaders are weighing the creation of a public animal abuser registry that supporters say would make it harder for convicted offenders to own animals and help authorities intervene sooner in abuse cases.
The proposal, modeled after similar laws already in place across much of New York, is scheduled for a public hearing June 18 before the Ontario County Board of Supervisors considers final approval.
Under the proposed law, anyone convicted of misdemeanor- or felony-level animal abuse offenses would be required to register with the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office would maintain an online database containing names, photographs and conviction information for those placed on the registry.
Law enforcement officials say the goal is to prevent convicted abusers from possessing or harboring animals while giving residents and animal welfare organizations a tool to identify violations and report concerns. He estimated the registry would likely include between 10 and 15 individuals annually.
The proposal has earned strong support from the Ontario County Humane Society, which operates the Happy Tails animal shelter. Board President Kurt Koczent said the measure would strengthen accountability for people convicted of abusing animals.
Local officials say animal abuse investigations have increased in recent years, particularly cases involving large numbers of animals. According to Koczent, 35 animal abuse arrests were made in Ontario County in 2025, including four animal hoarding cases involving approximately 75 animals.
The influx placed significant strain on shelter resources. Happy Tails is designed to house about 50 animals, making large-scale seizures difficult to manage.
According to the New York State Humane Society, more than half of New York’s 62 counties have adopted animal abuser registries. Livingston County’s registry took effect earlier this year, while neighboring Monroe, Wayne and Yates counties do not currently maintain similar databases.
The public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at the Ontario County Safety Training Facility on Ontario Street in Canandaigua. Residents will also have the option to participate remotely.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.