CANANDAIGUA — The Ontario County Board of Supervisors is considering the implementation of an animal abuser registry. The board's public safety committee approved the proposed legislation in May.

A public hearing on the proposed registry is scheduled for June 18. Individuals convicted of misdemeanor or felony animal abuse crimes would be required to register with the Ontario County Sheriff's Office.

Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione stated that the proposed registry is modeled after similar registries in other New York counties. The sheriff's office would maintain an online public registry containing details and pictures of convicted individuals. "It could be a little more or a little less," Cirencione said. "I think we can adequately maintain and monitor it."

Canandaigua Town Supervisor Don Cotter stated a registry would make it easier to deny dog licenses to individuals convicted of animal abuse who have had animals removed. "We want to make sure people and animals are properly treated in our community," Don Cotter said.

The number of animal abuse investigations has increased over the past six years. In 2025, 35 animal abuse arrests occurred in the county, with four involving animal hoarding. These four hoarding cases involved approximately 75 animals requiring care.

"I don't know what the rhyme or reason is for this, but also the number of animals involved in these cases, it's not typically one or two," Cirencione said. "It's 15, 20, 30 at one time in one location." Most animal abuse cases involve dogs and cats, though arrests have involved larger animals like horses.

Kurt Koczent, President of the Ontario County Humane Society Board of Directors, said. "This will allow us to put some teeth around animal abuse laws so that folks know if you do this, you're not going to own an animal in Ontario County," Koczent said.

Animal abuse case numbers have aligned with historical averages so far this year. "We're able to tread water a little bit if the current trend continues," Koczent said. The public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Supervisors' Chambers at 74 Ontario St., Canandaigua. The hearing can be attended virtually via WebEx or by telephone.