HARRISBURG – Legislation known as “Aimee’s Law” will be introduced by Erie County Sen. Dan Laughlin which would create a publicly accessible registry of individuals convicted of felony animal abuse offenses. The proposal is inspired by a case in Erie County, where a six-month-old Siberian husky puppy, later named Aimee, was found abandoned in a crate in freezing temperatures. Despite efforts by local rescuers, Aimee did not survive. Authorities arrested two people in connection with her abandonment and abuse. Under Aimee’s Law, anyone convicted of felony animal cruelty or aggravated cruelty to animals would be required to be placed on a publicly accessible registry, similar to Megan’s Law. The registry would increase transparency, help law enforcement track repeat offenders, and support enforcement of existing penalties for animal abuse. Research shows that a history of animal abuse can correlate with other violent behavior, highlighting the public safety benefits of such a registry. Laughlin said a publicly searchable registry gives families, neighbors, and authorities a critical tool to recognize dangerous patterns and prevent future tragedies. Florida recently enacted similar legislation.
SEN. DAN LAUGHLIN