Government
Suffolk County Establishes First Public Animal Abuser Registry in Nation
Suffolk becomes the first county in the country to establish a public animal abuse registry.
Suffolk County has officially become the first county in the nation to pass a bill to establish a public animal abuser registry. Authored by the legislature’s majority leader, Jon Cooper, D-Lloyd Harbor, the bill creates the first publicly searchable database of convicted animal abusers, which Cooper said he hopes officially exists within the next few months.
The law, which must be signed into law or vetoed in the next 30 days by County Executive Steve Levy, requires convicted abusers to register their names, addresses and a photograph with the registry. Additionally, each offender must pay an annual fee of $50 for the five years that they must register with the database after being convicted. The database will be run by the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and will be funded by abusers’ registration fees and private donations.
“This bill will provide the ammunition needed to fight the ongoing war against animal abusers,” said Suffolk County’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Chief Roy Gross. “Let Jon’s law be a model for other municipalities, not only in New York State, but throughout the nation.”
Previous counties across the nation have tried for years to set up a similar registry, but Suffolk is the first to have the law pass. Stephan Otto, the director of legislative affairs at the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a non-profit animal rights organization, said he believes that previous attempts have failed due to funding concerns. Cooper, however, assures that Suffolk’s registry will not spend any of taxpayers’ dollars and will rely solely on abusers’ registration fees and donations.
Other states also expressed concern over the fact that if these abusers’ names were readily accessible, members of the public would harass abusers. Otto disagreed with this statement.
“There is no right to privacy when it comes to criminal history,” Otto said. “There are other ways for people to find out this information if they really want to know it. This just makes the process more efficient.”
Cooper added, “I think that the public has the right to know if their next door neighbor has been torturing dogs.”
Cooper has taken the process even further by already drafting up a follow-up bill, which will require pet stores, animal shelters and breeders to check into the identity of those seeking to purchase a pet before selling to them. The bill will be voted on next month.
So far the reception to the bill has been overwhelmingly positive. Cooper said that other counties in New York State interested in creating similar bills have already contacted him with questions. The ALDF also applauds Suffolk’s accomplishment.
“In story after heartbreaking story, abusers repeat their violent crimes against helpless animals, and often go on to victimize people as well,” Otto said. “Suffolk County residents and their four-legged companions can breathe a little easier today, as they celebrate this historic vote for animals.”
PLEASE VOTE FOR US
VOTING ENDS DECEMBER 15, 2010
To all of our Loyal Customers:
The Long Island Press is running a contest for the Best of Long Island 2011. We have been nominated for Best Pet Store and Best Groomer. We feel honored to be in this position, considering the odds. We would be ecstatic if we were voted “First Place” again. So we are asking all of you to please go on their website and vote for us. You go on http://bestof.longislandpress.com/vote/, scroll down and click on “SHOPPING & SERVICES”, then click on “Register Now or Login”, then click on “Cast Your Vote”, scroll down to “Pet Groomer” and click on “Selmers Pet Land”. Then scroll down to “Pet Shop” and click on “Selmers Pet Land”. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “You must be 21 years old”. Click on “Vote!” and your done. That’s it. You can only vote one time per day until December 15, 2010, it doesn’t matter where you live, the vote counts. So Please Vote for Selmer’s and help us win for the 6th year.
Check our Website for Free Home Deliver. Did you know we have over 20,000, twenty thousand items in our in store kiosk.
Just one more thing, please tell all of your friends and family and ask them to vote for an “Independent, Family Owned and Operated Business for 71 Years”. It would be such an honor for us to be listed as the Number One Best Pet Shop and Groomer on Long Island again.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season and appreciate your loyalty and patronage.
The Selmer Family and Staff
10.25.10
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going with pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can conquer tension with medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
…Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!
Welcome to Animail News, your source for animal news and information brought to you by the folks at www.SelmersPetland.com.
Since 1939, The Selmer Family continues to provide birds, fish, puppies, reptiles, small animals, grooming and supplies to our community in South Huntington, New York. The people of Long Island have awarded Selmer’s Pet Land Long Island’s Best Pet Store for 2007, 2008 and 2009. As well as the Best Grooming Department on Long Island for 2009.
In addition, if we don’t inventory what you are looking for we can order it. Our business has grown because of our commitment to our customers and their families. We thank our customers for their loyalty to us.
Selmer’s Petland
125 East Jericho Turnpike
South Huntington, NY 11746
Hours of Operation:
9 AM – 9 PM, Monday – Saturday
10 AM – 6 PM, Sunday
Phone number: (631) 423-4677
