Horse rescue operations could soon have the option of consulting a nationwide animal abuser registry before adopting animals out, according to a representative of the California-based animal advocacy group Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF).

Chris Green, ALDF director of legislative affairs, said the ALDF-sponsored database would contain the names of animal abusers from all 50 states, and the database’s contents would be available to animal rescue organizations nationwide, free of charge.

“Basically, rescuers and shelters would consult the database to find out who should not adopt an animal,” Green said.

Green said the ALDF registry, also known as the “do not adopt list,” would derive its information from district attorneys in jurisdictions nationwide after cases have been disposed. The registry would contain the only names of those who were convicted of animal abuse crimes, and anyone consulting the database would need to have the full name and birth date of the person in question, Green said. Additionally, the registry would not carry penalties for rescues and shelters that do not consult it, he said