New York's Suffolk County approves law punishing convicted animal abusers if they own pets

Legislators in Suffolk County New York strengthened an animal cruelty law by making it a crime for convicted animal abusers to own pets The county legislature voted last week to establish a Class A misdemeanor for people on the county's convicted animal abuser registry detected to be owning pets according to the New York Post The new addition to the law carries penalties of up to a year in jail or a fine This expands on a law the legislature enacted in that created an animal abuse registry which requires convicted animal abusers to add their name and contact information The law was among the first of its kind in the U S AI INSTRUMENT HELPS REUNITE LOST DOGS WITH THEIR OWNERSCounty Executive Ed Romaine signed the expanded law on Wednesday after telling reporters last week that it will protect animals according to the NYP Do not abuse animals he announced We will go after you and we will prosecute you and we will protect our animals The Suffolk County Police Department and district attorney s office maintain the registry which at this moment lists convicted animal abusers Offenders remain on the registry for years unless they are convicted of animal abuse again at which point the -year timer starts over While anyone convicted of animal abuse in the county was already prohibited from owning a pet there were no penalties for violating the rule YOUNG KANGAROO HOPS AROUND FLORIDA TOWN AFTER BRAZEN ESCAPE OWNER CHARGED We are ultimately able to close this loophole and further protect our animals commented Suffolk Legislator Stephanie Bontempi who sponsored the decree In Suffolk County we will not tolerate the abuse or neglect of animals By closing this loophole we will ensure that those offenders who disregard the law will face consequences It s something that shouldn t even be an issue but I m glad we were able to get this bill on the books she added The expanded law was signed just days after dozens of dead cats were determined inside a Long Island home including in a freezer and a box spring Other felines were detected alive on the poorly maintained property which had urine and feces on the floors and walls among other things CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPRoy Gross chief of Suffolk County's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals welcomed the new law after years of fighting for stronger penalties For the first time we really have the power to take action against repeat offenders before our hands were tied he described Newsday