Washoe County Regional Animal Services (WCRAS), in partnership with the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, has launched a new online resource listing individuals convicted of qualifying animal welfare offenses in Washoe County.
The Animal Welfare Offense Convictions resource is intended to help shelters, rescue organizations and members of the public make more informed decisions when placing animals into homes.
WCRAS has shared similar information with approved rescue partners for approximately three years. The new public resource expands access to that information and currently includes more than 160 unique individuals, generally covering qualifying convictions dating back to 2023, along with a limited number of earlier egregious cases.
“Information about a prior animal cruelty conviction may be known to one agency but not to another organization making a placement decision,” WCRAS Director Shyanne Schull said. “Making verified information easier to access gives individuals and organizations another tool to help protect animals from future harm.”
The importance of information sharing was highlighted by a case earlier this year involving an individual with a prior felony animal cruelty conviction who later received two kittens from a rescue organization. Within days, one kitten was found abandoned in a dumpster and the other was never located. The individual was later identified in another animal cruelty case in San Francisco.
The new resource is a screening tool, not a registry or prohibition list. Inclusion does not automatically mean an individual is legally prohibited from owning or adopting an animal, and organizations remain responsible for their own screening and placement decisions.
The resource includes adults with qualifying final court outcomes and allows users to search by name and review information including the offense, case number, jurisdiction and outcome date. It should not be considered a comprehensive record of every animal welfare-related case in Washoe County, as some cases may be handled by other agencies without WCRAS involvement or notification.
WCRAS worked with the District Attorney’s Office to develop safeguards related to accuracy, privacy, due process, and correction of information. The resource will be updated as new qualifying cases receive final court outcomes.
The Animal Welfare Offense Convictions resource became publicly available October 26 and can be viewed at:
www.WashoeAnimals.com/AnimalConvictions
CONTACT: Quinn Sweet, qsweet@washoecounty.gov, 775-353-8917
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About Washoe County Regional Animal Services
Washoe County Regional Animal Services works to promote responsible pet ownership, protect animal welfare and public safety, and support positive outcomes for animals and people throughout Washoe County.