Chesterfield County Launches Animal Cruelty Registry

Richmond News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 27, 2026 · 1m

Chesterfield County just rolled out a groundbreaking animal cruelty registry—now live and online—to shield animals from abuse by keeping convicted felons off the pet adoption radar. Designed for shelters and law enforcement, it lets adopters check a person’s history before bringing a new pet home, promoting transparency and safety. Approved in May, the registry includes offenses since 2009 and allows removal after 15 years—or sooner if convictions are overturned. Advocates like Carrie Jones see this as a vital first step toward a statewide system, signaling the county’s serious commitment to…