As passionate animal adopters and advocates, we have witnessed firsthand the heartbreaking cycle of abuse that many animals endure. Our local shelter, Tri County Animal Rescue in Boca Raton, receives several abused animals every day. Alarmingly, many of these abusers simply pay a fee and continue to adopt or purchase more animals to harm. This vicious cycle needs to be stopped.

We are calling on Congress to establish a national animal abuser registry akin to other offender registries. Such a registry would prevent known abusers from adopting or purchasing more animals, thereby reducing the number of innocent creatures subjected to cruelty.

The Humane Society estimates that nearly 1 million animals are abused or killed each year due to domestic violence alone (Humane Society). This figure does not even account for those harmed by individuals outside their immediate households. The creation of an animal abuser registry could significantly reduce this number by preventing known offenders from having access to potential victims.

This is not just about protecting our pets; it's about maintaining our humanity and ensuring justice for all living beings. We urge you all - as fellow animal lovers, as compassionate humans - sign this petition and help us convince Congress that an animal abuser registry is necessary for the welfare of our nation's creatures.