Allegany County takes key step toward establishing an Animal Abuse Registry

Sheriff Cicirello along with Legislators Steven Havey and Gretchen Hanchett have championed the proposed Local Law 5-2025

Public Hearing has been set for December 10th

By Andrew Harris

Earlier in 2025, Allegany County Sheriff Scott Cicirello and Legislator Gretchen Hanchett made the case that the county needed to establish a registry for those who are known to be criminal animal abusers. Public Safety Chair and Legislator Steven Havey agreed and the process of making a new law began.

The premise of the law isn’t that much different than the existing sex offender registry. A public registry is intended to inform residents of potential danger from criminally deviant individuals. According to a joint statement by Sheriff Cicirello and Legislator Hanchett the law has five goals:

1. Preventing Repeat Offenses

2. Bridging Public Awareness and Transparency

3. Recognizing the Connection to Broader Public Safety

4. Supporting Law Enforcement and Advocacy Efforts

5. Cultivating a Culture of Accountability

Since bringing the proposal to the Public Safety Committee, Legislator Havey and fellow lawmakers started refining the actual letter of the law with the County Attorney Allison Carrow, District Attorney Ian Jones, and County Administrator Carissa Knapp. After that period of due diligence, Havey brought the proposed law to the full board, ready for approval.

Havey noted to the board that part of that due diligence was to assuage any worries that the law would impact livestock farmers. As it stands the laws preventing the abuse of farm animals like cows, pigs, and chickens are still controlled by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. This local law is to create a registry of those who abuse domestic animals like dogs and cats.

Besides the universal effort to stop all animal abuse, establishing this registry has other broader impacts. There is a strong link between animal abusers and criminal violence against other human beings. Establishing a public list of animal abusers is another step toward raising a red flag over individuals prone to violent extremes.