The proposed bill aims to protect vulnerable animals by establishing a public registry for individuals convicted of felony animal abuse.
A new bill would establish a public registry for people convicted of felony animal abuse in California.
The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D–San Francisco) on Tuesday, and similar to the Megan’s Law website for registered sex offenders, AB 2344 would create a California Animal Abuse Registry for adults convicted of felony animal abuse. It would be run by the state’s Department of Justice.
The bill would require offenders to register for 10 years and would direct the California Department of Justice to create a public website by Jan. 1, 2028.
“Animals are completely dependent on us for care and protection, and when that trust is shattered through abuse, we have a moral obligation to act,” Assemblymember Haney’s officer wrote in a statement. “Animal cruelty is unacceptable. By giving shelters, rescues, and the public a tool to prevent repeat cruelty, the registry will help protect…
How will this protect animals? They going to make the state of California pay for reading education and how to use the Internet for animals? This is pointless, an animal can’t make a decision of what human they are going to go to. And then, naturally, there will be amendments to this saying the information is for entertainment use only, and cannot be used by those agencies listed in this article to actually enforce NOT giving an animal to anyone on this list. And this crap continues. And this bill isn’t even from the republicans. Man, California is doomed!
If it saves one animal is heard in the background of this effort as the same is said for SO registry.
A noble effort but it is proving the concept is punishment. If they feel it is applicable in this instance, then it needs to be spread to all other convictions as well. The person introducing this bill should note in committee what the stated civil intent is since it will already by public info and how it will contrast with the societal punishment it will inflict.
This is ridiculous. Animal Control and perhaps vets should be made aware of someone with a history of animal abuse. A Public registry is ridiculous and as we know through living life on a public registry… this will grow and pretty soon animal owners tugging on their dog’s leash will be listed on the public registry. So sad.
“AB 2344 says clearly that if you commit felony animal abuse, there will be lasting consequences. We have a responsibility to protect vulnerable animals and help prevent repeat cruelty before more harm is done.”
There you have it, folks. Consequences. In other words, punishment. Of course, these people are ALREADY being punished, but so many American politicans simply don’t believe that probation, fines, a criminal record, or even jail terms are actually “punishment.” They don’t understand that America has more people in prison than any country in world history and every single crime simply can’t have 20, 40, or life term sentences. They KNOW that public registries are a form of banishment, which is almost as good as prison, and they’re cheap and easy and until the judicial system gets its act together (the Does III case is looking good!) and treats registries exactly how it treats fines, prison, and death, they’ll keep exploiting that loophole over and over and over and over again.
outta control we dont need a pet offense registry. CORRUPT GOVERNMENT
we dont need a pet offense registry, what we need is a stupid politician registry.
Hilarious, Since no one is really checking if an animal abuser is moving in down the block. Or if that guy that starved his dog is sitting in the park with another pet. This is wasteful spending. No Lists for ANYONE. period.
Civil Freedom Is IdentifiedWritten By Quiet too long — 03/27/2026
This statement is a work of fiction and constitutional commentary, not legal advice or an accusation against any person or agency. It imagines a future in which civil labels quietly replace individual rights, and public registries become tools for shaping identity rather than protecting safety. It serves as a warning to all Americans who still believe in freedom: whenever the government creates a new category of people to monitor, publish, or control, it is not just defining them — it is redefining all of us. Civil freedom is not lost in a single moment; it is eroded through ordinary laws that seem harmless until they are applied to the next group, and then the next, until the architecture of liberty has been replaced by the architecture of compliance — to the point where a community, convinced it is protecting itself, ends up corralling individuals into a fortress of its own making.
It won’t be long until *everyone* is labelled by those who feel it’s their place to judge others according to their individual standards. Also…this list would just serve as another “hit list” for those who deem themselves worthy of doling out their own forms of punishment, since I imagine it would be similar to other registries and include names and addresses. This type of “Scarlet Letter” justice is insane!
Kristy Noem the puppy killer should be on this list if she ever decides to relocate to California
This is actually good news and it’s too bad it didn’t come sooner …….this waters down the perception of the registry …yesterday it was people who were convicted of a sex offense…..today it’s people convicted of animal abuse….:
tomorrow it’s fathers with unpaid child support….
days after that it’s some other dumb ass thing at least social exile won’t be so lonely lol
the government wanted criminal registry’s
long before the public ever had any idea what that was… one time many years ago I even seen a document that was leaked that said as much I wish I oils locate it now to show but search’s don’t turn up squat seems the the government cleaned up that spill.
in Oregon the so called justice reform mined state representatives tossed out any notion of reform by passing SB1122
I lost access to relief and lost my level 1
risk score that I have held for 22yrs
simply because I hire a good lawyer and sought relief of registration and had a winning hand this go round oh well there a peace in the clear reality when hope isn’t there to decive my sences.
Makes as much sense as the sex registry. This will prevent crime by allowing people to check if their potential pet sitter is on the animal abuse registry, presumably.