An effort to prevent the mistreatment of animals by way of a countywide animal abuse registry began in the spring of 2018. A dog found dead in a wooded area in Jamestown quickly led to the passage of a local law by the Chautauqua County Legislature.

Three and a half years after being established, the animal abuse registry is being put to use.

Four individuals convicted of animal abuse charges — including the city man whose actions led to the registry’s creation — recently have been added to a webpage hosted by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.

The local law prevents convicted offenders from adopting, purchasing or obtaining animals from any animal shelter or pet seller. It also requires animal shelters and pet sellers to examine the registry to confirm that the name of the potential owner is not listed.

Actions that result in being placed on the registry include abandoning, injuring, overdriving, or torturing animals; failing to provide proper sustenance; poisoning or attempting to poison animals; harming service animals; and injuring or killing a police animal.

The registry is modeled after one implemented in Cattaraugus County. As of Monday, there were nine people listed on the registry.

According to a CBS news report, Suffolk County in New York state was the first in the country to create an animal abuse registry.

On its website — sheriff.us — the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said anyone convicted of animal cruelty in the county after May 2018 is required to submit information.

“The information listed here has been supplied by convicted offenders to the Chautauqua County Sheriff and does not guarantee accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information contained on the website,” the Sheriff’s Office writes on its site.

“Anyone selling, giving away or adopting an animal to another person in Chautauqua County must check the registry prior to any change in ownership. Giving, selling or adopting an animal to a person on the registry is a violation of county law.”

Currently on the list are Jamestown resident Robert Overton on a conviction of aggravated cruelty to animals; Mayville resident Stefan Parkhurst on a conviction of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; Dunkirk resident Angel Ramos on a conviction of cruelty to animals; and Jamestown resident Matthew Williams on a conviction of torturing or injuring animals/failure to provide sustenance.