Erie County Legislature Reviewing Animal Abuse Law

By Ed Reilly

March 7, 2013 Updated Mar 7, 2013 at 9:16 PM EDT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) Erie County Legislator Terrence McCracken has now re-introduced a bill that would create an online registry for convicted animal abusers.

The proposed law is still in committee with a public hearing on the issue to be scheduled in the near future.

Under the proposed law, a convicted animal abuser will have to supply information and a photo for the registry within 30 days of a conviction, or the release from incarceration.

Violators could face up to a $500 fine.

The law also makes it illegal for an abuser to acquire an animal for a period of five years

Pet sellers and animal shelters will be required to do a background check on the animal abuse registry before selling or transferring an animal to a convicted abuser.

Violations of this provision will carry a fine of up to $1,000.

To submit a comment on this article, your email address is required. We respect your privacy and your email will not be visible to others nor will it be added to any email lists.