Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
Pennsylvania Sen. Daniel Laughlin will soon introduce Aimee’s Law, legislation that will create an animal abuse registry for the state. Similar to Megan’s Law, a registry of sex offenders, Aimee’s Law registry will list individuals convicted of felony animal abuse. The registry will be available to the public, including animal shelters and rescues that can use it when screening potential adopters.
The legislation is spurred by the death of Aimee, a six-month-old husky who was abandoned in a crate in Erie in late January. The emaciated puppy, suffering from frostbite, was covered in her own feces when the ANNA Shelter in Erie rescued her. Aimee suffered cardiac arrest during emergency surgery and, despite veterinarians performing CPR for approximately 40 minutes, she passed away.
Aimee’s abuse and death made local and state headlines, compelling Sen. Laughlin to take action. In addition to protecting animals, Sen. Laughlin believes Aimee’s Law will “deter repeat offenders, and support enforcement of existing penalties for egregious cruelty that currently result in felony charges,” he said in a memo released on Jan. 26, 2026.
“There is evidence that a history of animal abuse can correlate with other violent behaviors, and a registry increases transparency and public safety,” Sen. Laughlin said.
Tennessee and Florida are the only two states that currently have animal abuse registries, although some cities and towns have implemented similar legislation.
Keep track of the progress of Aimee’s Law.
