Man am I proud to be an Orange County resident. On Thursday, May 7, the Orange County Legislature voted unanimously to pass Rocky’s Law, the toughest animal abuse registry in the country. Under this law, one convicted of animal abuse is precluded from owning another animal for 15 years. A second conviction earns you a lifetime ban on pet ownership. Oh, and if anyone sells you an animal, they get in trouble, too.

Orange County has proven itself to be smart, tough and fearless. We are a zero-tolerance community for animal abuse. Mike Anagnostakis, the legislator who introduced Rocky’s Law, deserves special credit. He didn’t just flip the newspaper page after reading about Rocky, a dog that was chained up by his owner, outside, for five weeks, over the winter, while the owner went on vacation. When Rocky was found, he was covered in rat bites, emaciated, and suffering from hypothermia. Rocky was euthanized.

It was too late to save Rocky, but Mike resolved to save future animals from such a horrific and cruel demise. I am immensely grateful for this elected official who is conscious of the horror that some people are capable of, and actually doing something about it. I am also proud of all 21 members of our legislature—every single one voted for Rocky’s Law.

Now if we can only get our town court justices to see the light and impose the appropriate penalties earned by those who harm innocents.

Victoria Shade

Goshen, NY