California has some of the strongest animal cruelty laws in the country. But unlike a few other states, California does not currently maintain a statewide public registry of convicted animal abusers.

That means animal shelters, rescues, breeders, and pet sellers may have no easy way to identify individuals with prior animal cruelty convictions before placing an animal in their care.

Animal cruelty is not a minor offense. Courts already recognize its seriousness through felony charges and sentencing. But once a sentence is served, there is often no centralized, accessible system to help prevent repeat offenses or protect animals from known abusers.

Other jurisdictions have taken action. Counties like Livingston County, New York, have established public Animal Abuser Registries requiring convicted offenders to register and prohibiting them from adopting or purchasing animals. States such as Washington and Utah have implemented similar statewide systems.

California can and should do the same.

We are calling on the California State Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom to introduce and pass legislation creating a statewide Animal Abuser Registry that:

• Requires individuals convicted of felony animal cruelty to register for a defined period;
• Prohibits listed individuals from adopting, purchasing, or harboring animals;
• Makes registry information accessible to shelters, rescues, and pet sellers;
• Directs fines toward animal welfare and prevention programs.

This is not about punishment beyond the law — it is about prevention and transparency. It is about giving shelters the tools they need to make informed decisions and keeping vulnerable animals out of dangerous situations.

California has led the nation on animal welfare before. It can lead again.

Sign this petition to urge California lawmakers to create a statewide Animal Abuser Registry and strengthen protections for animals across our state.