Would Make It Illegal for Animal Abusers on Registry to Own Pets
By Hank Russell
Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti (R-North Massapequa) announced county legislation that would prohibit convicted animal abusers from owning pets and impose criminal penalties on convicted animal abusers who continue to own pets in defiance of the new legislation and court-ordered bans. This was announced at a press conference that took place in front of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter on May 28.
In addition to the prohibition from owning an animal, under Ferretti’s proposal, it would become a Class A misdemeanor for anyone on the Nassau County Animal Abuse Registry to own or possess an animal. Violators face up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. The legislator called his bill a critical step in closing longstanding enforcement gaps and preventing further animal cruelty.
“This legislation is about protecting innocent animals and giving law enforcement the tools they need to hold repeat offenders accountable,” Ferretti said. “If you’ve been convicted of abusing animals, you have forfeited the right to own them. Under my legislation, there will be serious consequences if you defy the law.”
The law builds upon Nassau County’s existing Animal Abuse Registry, which requires convicted abusers to register their personal information and prohibits animal shelters in Nassau from selling or otherwise conveying pets to convicted animal abusers. The new law prohibits abusers from owning animals and provides criminal penalties for violating the animal ownership prohibition — eliminating a loophole in the system.
Suffolk County recently signed similar legislation into law. As previously reported by Long Island Life & Politics, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously passed a bill introduced by Stephanie Bontempi (R-Huntington) that would establish a misdemeanor penalty for individuals on the convicted animal abuser registry who are found to be owning animals in violation of Suffolk County Code Sec. 229-28(F). It would also close a loophole in the current county code, which initially did not penalize those on the Animal Abuse Registry, who were found to possess animals, in violation of the county code.
“This isn’t just a legal issue; it’s a moral one,” Ferretti added. “We have a duty to be the ‘voice for the voiceless’ and protect animals from those who have already demonstrated they are capable of depraved and cruel behavior when it comes to interacting with animals.”
The legislation comes amid growing calls across Long Island for stronger protections against animal cruelty following a series of high-profile abuse and hoarding cases. Nassau County officials say the proposed law will serve as both a deterrent and a critical enforcement tool in preventing repeat offenses.
Animal welfare advocates and local law enforcement have praised the new law as a major victory for animal rights.
“This law makes it crystal clear: abuse an animal, and you lose the privilege of owning one — period,” said Gary Rogers, president of the Nassau County SPCA.
Ferretti pledged continued efforts to strengthen Nassau’s animal welfare laws and called on residents to report suspected abuse to local authorities or the Nassau County SPCA. LILP also reported that Nassau County police responded to a call in Elmont, where they found four kittens in a cardboard box left on a sidewalk.
For more information on the Nassau County Animal Abuse Registry and how to report animal cruelty, visit https://www.nassaucountyspca.org/report-abuse.