Several New York counties have created local animal abuse registries to track individuals convicted of animal cruelty, but advocates highlight a major loophole: offenders can simply move to counties without registries to continue acquiring pets legally. To address this, two state lawmakers have introduced competing bills proposing a statewide registry. Senator James Tedisco’s bill focuses on felony offenders under Buster’s Law, requiring public registration through the Division of Criminal Justice Services, while Assemblywoman Sarah Clark’s bill covers both felony and misdemeanor convictions, mandates registration for seven years or lifetime for repeat offenders, and includes background checks for pet-related business licenses.

The proposals have sparked debate over whether the registry should fall under criminal justice or agriculture law, with both lawmakers open to compromise. Meanwhile, some counties, like Schenectady, are pausing local registry efforts pending state action, viewing a statewide system as more effective. Advocates argue broad support for a unified registry is essential to prevent convicted abusers from circumventing protections by crossing county lines.