It’s time for New York State to have a statewide animal abuse registry

 It’s time for New York State to have a statewide animal abuse registry and time for us to get involved.

Senator James Tedisco (R, representing parts of the Capital Region including Saratoga and Schenectady counties) has been advocating for a statewide animal abuser registry for over a decade, with roots tracing back to his key role in passing Buster's Law in 1999.

That legislation made aggravated cruelty to animals a felony in New York, inspired by the 1997 case of "Buster" the cat in Schenectady—where a man poured kerosene on the cat and set it on fire. The abuser was convicted, but Tedisco highlighted how that same individual later committed serious crimes against a child (attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment), underscoring what he calls the "bridge crime" link: animal cruelty often signals or escalates to violence against people.

Tedisco's push for the registry specifically intensified in recent years due to what he describes as an "epidemic" of disturbing animal cruelty cases in New York (particularly in his district and surrounding areas), combined with the limitations of the existing patchwork of county-level registries.

Many counties (e.g., Saratoga, Fulton, Allegany adopting registries in 2025) have local ones, but abusers can simply move to a non-registry county to acquire animals.

Specific recent cases prompting renewed urgency in 2025:

July 2025: Death of "Gus" the French Bulldog at "A Time for Paws" doggy daycare/boarding in Halfmoon (Saratoga County area). The owner was charged with felony animal cruelty under Buster's Law for allegedly leaving the dog in extreme heat, plus neglect and criminal mischief. Tedisco reacted by calling for stronger laws, including the registry.

August 2025: Wilton mother and daughter charged with 37 counts of animal abuse/neglect (hoarding-related, involving unsanitary conditions and failure to provide sustenance). Tedisco linked this to potential mental illness and called for psych evaluations + ownership bans + registry.

August 2025: Canajoharie man deliberately hitting a kitten with his pickup truck (intentional cruelty).

September 2025 onward: Additional cases, like deaths of 21 dogs at a boarding facility in Argyle (Washington County) due to neglect/cruelty, and a pit bull "Diesel" dying at Meadowdale Acres in Altamont. These boarding/kennel horrors led Tedisco to advocate for oversight of facilities alongside the registry.

His advocacy is consistent: The registry would make convictions public/accessible to shelters, breeders, pet stores, and the public; require registration (name/address); prohibit ownership; and include penalties for non-compliance.

 

Here's a chronological timeline of the efforts to establish a statewide animal abuser registry. Note that no statewide registry has been enacted yet—all major bills remain in committee (primarily Agriculture in the Senate or Codes/Agriculture in the Assembly) as of early 2026, with no passage, votes, or governor approval.

Senator James Tedisco begins pushing versions of a statewide registry bill. These appear repeatedly across sessions (e.g., S3804 in 2011-12, S2305 in 2013-14, S2935 in 2015-16, S605/S4273 in 2017-18, S1526 in 2019-20, S1528 in 2021-22, S907 in 2023-24).

These bills typically require convicted abusers to register name/address with the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), make the registry public/accessible to shelters, breeders, pet stores, law enforcement, and humane societies, and prohibit abusers from owning animals.

They advance in some sessions but never pass both houses or become law. Tedisco has advocated for this since at least 2015, linking it to preventing repeat offenses and noting the "link" between animal cruelty and other violence.

As of February 2026, no statewide registry exists. All active bills (S1563, S8084, A2194, A9024) are stalled in committee.

What can we do?

Normal people can take several practical steps to help push for a statewide animal abuser registry in New York. Advocacy from constituents is key to building momentum—legislators often respond to public pressure, especially on issues like animal protection that have broad appeal.

Contact your state legislators directly —Tell them you support a statewide registry to close the patchwork gaps, prevent repeat offenders from getting animals, and protect both pets and people.

Find your State Senator - Find My Senator | NYSenate.gov

Assemblymember -  Assembly Member Search | New York State Assembly

Call, email, or write a short message: "As a resident, I urge you to support/co-sponsor [bill numbers like S.1563 or S.8084] for a statewide animal abuser registry. Local county registries aren't enough—abusers move counties. Please help get this out of committee and to a vote."

Be polite, personal (mention why it matters to you, e.g., pet owner, concerned about local cruelty cases), and persistent—follow up if no response.

Reach out to key sponsors/champions —

Senator James Tedisco (main driver behind S.1563 and related efforts):

District Office: 636 Plank Rd, 2nd Floor, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Phone: 518-885-1829

Fax: 518-371-2649

Email - Contact James Tedisco's office | NYSenate.gov

Thank him for his work (he's been pushing this for years, tied to Buster's Law) and urge him to keep pressing for hearings/votes.

Support or join advocacy groups — These organizations track bills, organize calls/emails, and sometimes host events or petitions:  New York State Humane Association — They maintain a list of county registries and advocate for statewide solutions. Check their site (nyshumane.org) for updates and contact them to get involved; Local humane societies/shelters — They often support these bills and may have action alerts, petitions, or ways to amplify your voice (e.g., sign/share their statements).

Raise awareness locally — Share info on social media (e.g., post about the bills, Tedisco's press releases, or recent cruelty cases, tagging @nysenate or @JamesTedisco); Talk to friends/family/pet owners—encourage them to contact legislators too.

These steps don't require special skills or money—just time and persistence. If enough people speak up, it can move bills out of committee.

#Letsbethechange