It is well past the time for our State of North Carolina to Create and Enforce an Animal Abuse Registry for Convicted Animal Abusers. Current and Past Events and Arrests Prove that North Carolina is among the worse States for Animal Abuse. We, the under signed, CARE About the animals in our State of North Carolina. We Request that the North Carolina House of Representatives initiate and create an Animal Abuse Registry State-wide, in order to Protect Animals from Abuse, Neglect, Cruelty and even Death.

A North Carolina State-wide Animal Abuse Registry will help to prevent animal abuse by taking into account the ease and availability of victims (animals) and by Removing Anonymity of the Abuser.

Officials in other States are bringing the issue of Creating and Enforcing an Animal Abuse Registry to their States. North Carolina Needs to be Among those States Trying to Protect Innocent Animals from Abuse, Neglect, Cruelty and Death.

Our State of North Carolina has the notoriety of being the State that has had ..."one of the largest, if not the largest, companion animal rescues the ASPCA has done"... in ASPCA's 150 year history. As per Tim Rickey, VP Field Investigations for ASPCA.

A Washington Post article by Karin Brulliard on September 13, 2016 states:

“Just as we place extra trust in teachers and law enforcement, so, too, should we ensure that those engaged in the handling of animals have a spotless record,” New Jersey state Rep. Troy Singleton (D) said about legislation he sponsored to make his state home to the second statewide animal abuse registry. He referred to the idea as a “first line of defense.”

The registries are part of widening efforts in the United States to punish and track animal abusers, who, research has shown, commit violence against people at higher rates than normal. All 50 states now have felony provisions for the gravest crimes against animals, although many offenses are still considered misdemeanors.

The FBI has added animal cruelty to its list of Class A felonies, and this year began collecting data for such crimes the way it does for other serious offenses, including homicide.

“Most owners consider their pets to be family members,” Kevin Beckner, the Hillsborough County commissioner who pushed for the registry, said in a statement.

"This Registry not only protects animals, but it can identify — and maybe even prevent — violence against humans, too.“

Above article source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/09/13/animal-abusers-are-being-registered-like-sex-offenders-in-these-jurisdictions/?utm_term=.eea4e334fa7f

>>> 11abc.com - By Nicole Carr and Greg Barnes  dated Thursday, January 28, 2016

HOKE COUNTY - NORTH CAROLINA  (WTVD) --

The owners of a Hoke County (NC) animal shelter are facing cruelty to animal charges.

Hoke County (NC) Sheriff Hubert A. Peterkin said Wednesday that a search warrant was served on The Haven-Friends for Life no-kill shelter following ongoing neglect concerns and complaints made by the public and other agencies.

Hoke County (NC) officials and the ASPCA removed about 600 animals from The Haven animal shelter Wednesday morning.

ASPCA workers started photographing and video-recording conditions at the shelter Wednesday morning minutes after sheriff's deputies served search warrants on the owners, Linden and Stephen Spears.

An initial investigation revealed that at least four animals were in such bad shape that cruelty charges were filed against 67-year-old Stephen Joseph Spear and 59-year-old Linden Spear.

"We've seen open wounds on animals, we've seen no water for the animals, we are seeing animals that seem to be malnourished," said Cpt. John Kivett of the Hoke County (NC) Sheriff's Office.

The operation followed months of complaints. In fact, some of those troubled by their concerns about the Haven shelter started a Facebook page to protest the operation of the unlicensed facility.

The pair, both of Raeford, were taken into custody and charged with three counts of felony possession of controlled substance and four counts of cruelty to animals.

They were operating the 100-acre facility without a license for at least a decade. Their latest application for one was denied by the North Carolina Attorney General's office on Jan. 16. At its worst, the center was home to 1,000 animals.

Officials said it's going to take several days to get the hundreds of animals off the property.

"This'll be one of the largest, if not the largest, companion animal rescues the ASPCA has done," said Tim Rickey, VP Field Investigations for ASPCA.

The ASPCA was called in by police to help assist in evaluating the animals, and more charges could be possible for the Spears.

"There is different levels of neglect going on throughout the property," Rickey said. "And there are some situations that are quite severe."

Wednesday, the ASPCA brought in trucks, and a mobile medical vehicle to examine and treat the animals. Humane Society and animal-rescue groups from across the East Coast, and from as far away as Hawaii have volunteered to help relocate many of the animals to temporary emergency shelters.

Rickey said it could be several days before they wrap up the investigation and get all the animals off the property.

The animals will not be available for immediate adoption. They will be put aside in temporary shelters for the time being, as they are considered evidence in a criminal case.

The Spears are being held under $5,000 bond each. And, for now, they are not allowed back on the property. Not until all the animals are gone.

Above Information Source: http://abc11.com/news/600-animals-seized-in-raid-at-hoke-co-rescue-center/1175939/                                                 Video Source: http://abc11.com/video/embed/?pid=1176864                *Note: The Hoke County Sheriff & the ASPCA seized close to 700 animals from the property*

>>> The Port City Daily (newspaper) in Wilmington, North Carolina             wrote on August 3, 2017:

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (Wilmington, North Carolina) —

The 37 dogs rescued during an animal cruelty bust last month (July 2017) are in good homes, for now.
The dogs were removed from the Fairford Road home of Anita Brown in July; Brown was arrested after a months-long investigation by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and repeated warning from the Animal Services Unit to improve the living conditions for the dogs.
Brown was arrested and charged with 37 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. She was later released on a $19,000 bond.
“All of the dogs have been fostered out,” Augst said. “They’ll remain fostered until there is a disposition (final decision) in the case.”
The dogs will remain in foster care, though they will serve as evidence in Brown’s trial. A court date not yet been set, according to Lieutenant Jason Augst, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office (in Wilmington, North Carolina).
The trial judge will have the final say over the fate of the dogs.
“What happens to the dogs after the trial will be up to the judge,” Augst said. “The judge will make a decision, whether the dogs stay in foster care or can be adopted out.”
The judge could also potentially return the dogs to Brown, Augst said.

Above Photo obtained from ASPCA's Exclusive Photos from their largest-companion-animal-rescue-ever in ASPCA's 150 year history, where nearly 700 animals were saved from severe neglect at the site of an unlicensed, 122-acre facility known as The Haven, in Raeford, North Carolina in Jan. 2016.