Author: Saratoga TODAY

BALLSTON SPA – The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee today advanced a proposed local law to create a countywide animal abuse registry. 

The local law will establish an online registry for individuals who are convicted of animal abuse and neglect crimes and empowers the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office to maintain the registry and promulgate any necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.

“Despite numerous state laws criminalizing animal abuse and neglect, we continue to see disturbing cases in Saratoga County. Creating a countywide animal abuse registry is a vital step in protecting vulnerable animals and holding abusers accountable,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett (Clifton Park) said “By identifying abusers and preventing them from adopting, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining animals, we can reduce the risk of repeated cruelty cases and provide a resource for shelters, breeders, and rescue groups seeking homes for animals.”

 “An animal abuse registry is more than a tool for protecting pets – it’s a commitment to public safety that benefits both community members and animals,” Public Safety Committee Chair Supervisor John Lant (Wilton) said,  “It’s well known that animal cruelty often is a sign of deeper violent tendencies, so when we take a stand against animal cruelty, we send a clear message that violence in any form will not be tolerated in Saratoga County.” 

“My conversations with Chairman Barrett and Supervisors have been encouraging,” said Brett Eby, animal abuse registry advocate and candidate for Saratoga County District Attorney “I am thrilled about their support for the implementation of an animal abuse registry. I vow to do whatever I can to support and implement this important measure to provide additional protections for our animals in Saratoga County.”

The law will require Saratoga County residents age 18 and older who are convicted of animal abuse and neglect crimes to register with the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office within ten days following their date of conviction or release from incarceration and within ten days of any residential move.  The individual will remain on the registry for 15 years following his or her first conviction of an animal abuse or neglect crime and will remain on the registry permanently if convicted for any subsequent animal abuse or neglect crime. 

The registry will include the individual’s name, any known aliases, address, and photograph. In addition to being publicly available online, the registry will be shared with the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, Saratoga County Child Protective Services, and Saratoga County Department of Social Services. 

The law will also require individuals to pay $100 to the County of Saratoga at the time of registration. Any person required to register who fails to do so shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of $100 to $250 or imprisonment for up to 15 days or both. Fees collected will offset the administrative costs of maintaining the registry.  

The proposal will move to the Law & Finance Committee before going before the full Board at its August 19, 2025, meeting. Once passed by the Board of Supervisors, the act shall take effect on the 90th day immediately after filing in the Office of the Secretary of State. To read the proposed Local Law, please view the Public Safety Committee’s August 6, 2025, Agenda.