During the 2024 legislative session, the Virginia Legislature passed a bill allowing localities to establish animal cruelty registries for convictions beginning July 1, 2024. Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 3.2-6573.1, The Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Henrico County Police Division, began the process of initiating such a registry. After the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the Henrico County Police Division presented this proposal to the Board of Supervisors, Henrico County formally established its own animal cruelty registry in Henrico County Code Section 5-5, becoming the first jurisdiction to establish such a registry by law in Virginia.
The purpose of this registry is to make public some general information about individuals convicted of certain felony animal crimes, primarily to ensure that they are not able to purchase animals after their convictions. As individuals are convicted of such felony animal crimes, their information shall be added to this registry. The Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney and Henrico law enforcement never want to put an animal in the hands of somebody who has been previously convicted of felony animal abuse, and this registry is a step toward ensuring that goal continues to be met.