Arizona Lawmakers Hoped to Curb Animal Abuse with New Registry

Over the years, I've worked closely with our local animal shelter. Through radio interviews, we talk about upcoming events, animal adoption drives, and our Pawsday Pet of the Week, hoping to find forever homes for some of the shelter's longest residents.

READ: Arizona Animal Shelter is Now Offering $5 Adoption Specials

Off air, we talk about some of the tragic situations dogs, cats, and other shelter animals come from. Every week I'm reminded of the two sides of human nature. Those with terrible intentions and those who fight to prevent animal cruelty.

As hard as they work, sometimes the laws have not been on their side. A new bill could change that.

Arizona Needs Stronger Animal Cruelty Laws

Animal cruelty is a serious problem in Arizona. Last year, the Arizona Humane Society responded to nearly 15,000 calls for service and initiated close to 10,000 animal abuse investigations. This was a 21% increase over the previous year.

Many of the cases involved the neglect, abuse, and abandonment of companion animals like dogs and cats across the state.

That's why Arizona Senator TJ Shope introduced Senate Bill 1047, which aims to strengthen Arizona's animal cruelty laws. If passed, the bill will define cruelty to companion animals and ensure necessary medical attention, safe shelter, and protection during extreme weather.

Current Animal Cruelty Laws in Arizona

Current animal cruelty laws in Arizona are vague and weak. This makes it hard for law enforcement to intervene and to hold animal abusers accountable.

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If passed, Arizona's SB1047 would serve to strengthen animal cruelty laws and provide clarity to the standards for care for animals. It will give law enforcement and prosecutors tools to act swiftly and effectively in cases of animal cruelty and neglect.

Arizona's Proposed Animal Abuse Registry: Why It Failed to Pass

Recently, supporters of the bill proposed a statewide animal abuse registry. The bill would have created the nation's first database of this kind, assisting animal care services with a clearer picture when adopting animals to the public.

The bill was defeated when the Arizona Humane Society came out against the bill. Legislators voted against it due to an amendment that would have exempted pet stores from the $250 fine that would be imposed on anyone who knowingly adopted an animal to a person on the abuser list.

The rest of the bill has passed the first hurdles. With any luck, this issue of an abuse registry will be taken up again in the future.