Animal abuse registry in works

Local animal shelter officials said they support a potential state law that would create an online registry of animal abusers.

Under the bill introduced last week by California Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter), anyone convicted of felony animal abuse would have to register with local law enforcement and provide personal information, including a picture and home address, to be listed on a website, similar to the current registries for sex offenders.

If approved, the database would become the first of its kind nationwide.

Although La Cañada hasn’t had a single case of animal abuse in the past 10 years—since the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA began serving La Cañada Flintridge—the Pasadena Humane Society is in favor of the registry.

Ricky Whitman, a spokeswoman for the Pasadena Humane Society, said animal abuse in the shelter’s service area has decreased in response to more investigations and better public reporting. A public database could help continue that downward trend, she said.

“We certainly support this and would think this registry would be an excellent idea,” Whitman said.

— Seth Amitin contributed to this report