Lee County Sheriff Marceno sees success in animal abuse registry, wants statewide law
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno believes people statewide should know when they are dealing with animal abusers through a registry program similar to one enacted through an ordinance in the county.
“The delegation has been spoken to and they love the idea of making this a statewide registry, so good things are coming,” Sheriff Marceno told Florida’s Voice.
The Lee County Animal Abuse Registry was created with help from the sheriff’s Animal Cruelty Task Force and the legal teams of both the county and the sheriff’s office. County commissioners endorsed the idea with unanimous support for a county wide ordinance.
“This is a big big deal. So now they have to register,” Marceno said. “And moving forward what I want to do is take it statewide because then we’ll a have a statewide registry that identifies these psychotic people that abuse animals and then secondly, it keeps the animals away from them for five years.”
Abuse crimes include cruelty to animals, fighting or baiting animals, killing a dog or cat with the intent to sell or give away it’s pelt, killing or the aggravated abuse of a horse or cattle, sexual activities involving animals, and the confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise.
Under the current ordinance, those who are charged and convicted of abusing an animal must register with the county within 10 days after their release or conviction. Those on the registry must provide their name, address, date of birth, photo, and other information required by the county.
The registry prohibits abusers from having any contact with animals. Animal shelters, pet sellers, and private citizens are not allowed to transfer ownership of animals to those on the registry list. Abusers are not allowed to own or live in the same home or property as an animal, nor will they be allowed to work with animals for a period of five years.
“We’ve seen one recently where domestic violence between a domestic couple and unfortunately our suspect shoots the dog Louie in the head it comes out the snout. He suffers from that, and thank God Louis survives,” Marceno said, sharing details from a recent case that ended with the arrest of the owner.
“Talk about a great dog. Louie is loving life. So relaxed, non aggressive, and again gets adopted to a great home,” Marceno said, speaking about the benefits of having an ordinance that protect animals.
“So I was taking that animal not just saving them from the abuse, but you know, working hard to protect them in the future from not being abused again,” he said.
