For far too long, individuals convicted of animal abuse have escaped the consequences of their actions due to a lack of a public record of their crimes. Just as we protect our communities with a sex offender registry, it's time to similarly shield our beloved pets from harm with a Nationwide Animal Abuse Registry. Our animals are not just pets; they are our family, deserving of the same love, care, and protection.

Pictured above: Reba, the English Bulldog was tied up and duct taped in a plastic tote; left to die in the 110+ degree Las Vegas Heat. Sadly, Reba passed away a couple of days later.

• Nationally, at least one animal is abused every 60 seconds. That is nearly 526,000 annually.
• Each year in the United States, thousands of animals suffer violence and die at the hands of humans.
• About 250,000 animals annually are found to be victims of animal hoarding, with most living in unsanitary condtions.
• An estimated 10,000 puppy mills exist in the United States, with Missouri (for the 11th consecutive year) having the most and higher number of abusive mills.
• When comparing animal cruelty charges among adults, men outnumber women by 4 to 1 in almost all abuse types.
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There are tens of thousands of cases of animal abuse that go through the court system in this country every year, and none of them are being reported because there is no nationwide registry! Individuals convicted of animal cruelty have managed to continue owning and harming animals due to a lack of oversight. This cyclical abuse is not just heartbreaking, but inexcusable. In certain areas, animal cruelty is even considered a felony, recognizing the grievous harm caused to these innocent beings. Despite such recognition, a dearth of protective measures persists, leaving our furry family members at risk.

Statistics show that there is a correlation between animal abuse and violence against people: For instance, individuals who abuse animals are significantly more likely to perpetrate domestic violence. Those same individuals are more likely to commit violent crimes against people. (Source: Humane Society of the United States)

Let us create a public, searchable registry for animal abusers, much like the sex offender registry. This registry would list individuals convicted of felony animal cruelty, providing an invaluable tool for shelters, animal organizations, and ordinary pet lovers in keeping animals out of abusive hands.

Currently, one person in Nevada has taken on this huge project by launching Paws over Politics. We need an official registry that is connected to every single court house in the country.

Now is the time to act. It's time to establish a Nationwide Animal Abuse Registry to protect our precious animals from convicted abusers. Please, sign this petition to help make this goal a reality.