OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County is one step closer to developing an animal abuse database after commissioners approved a resolution in favor of the new tool on Monday.
The resolution creates a partnership between the county and the Osceola County Clerk of the Circuit Court to create the database, which will be publicly accessible at OsceolaClerk.com. Anyone who is convicted or pleads guilty to an animal abuse offense on or after Jan. 1, 2019 will appear on the registry.
Commissioner Cheryl Grieb helped push for the development of the database.
“Animal cruelty is a serious problem, and this is a way to make sure that people who have shown a lack of consideration for pets will not be able to threaten animals in the future,” Grieb said. “This is a tool that can be used by smaller animal rescue groups and residents who want to make sure a pet is going to a good home.”
Officials anticipate that the tool will be useful for anyone in the process of selling or transferring the ownership of a pet. If a resident gives an animal to someone who is on the database, they could face a fine.
It's unclear when the database will be publicly accessible.