Massachusetts considers registry for animal cruelty convicts

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Massachusetts considers registry for animal cruelty convicts
Bob Salsberg, Associated Press
Updated 4:19 pm, Wednesday, October 21, 2015

BOSTON (AP) — Lawmakers in Massachusetts and several other states are weighing proposals to create registries of animal abusers as a means for ensuring that pets wind up in the care of responsible and humane owners.

A bill, heard Wednesday by a Massachusetts legislative panel, would require anyone convicted of an animal cruelty crime provide their name, address and a photograph to an animal abuser registry that would be maintained by the state Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. The agency would generate a computerized list that can be consulted by pet shops, breeders and shelters who in turn would be asked to check the list before allowing a pet to be sold or adopted.

Analogous in some respects to sex offender registries, animal protection groups say the idea is beginning to gain some traction in the U.S.

New York City created an animal abuse registry in 2014, and Tennessee gave approval this year to the first statewide registry. Bills were also being considered in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, according to the website of the National Anti-Vivisection Society.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Massachusetts-considers-registry-for-animal-6581308.php

[restorefreedom]

1. excellent, now there needs to be nationwide registries and linkage. nt

[madville]

2. Why not just register all convicted felons

And maybe people with domestic violence and child abuse misdemeanors, protection orders, and animal cruelty misdemeanors as well. It can be one big database so you can research more people all at once.

[mopinko]

3. a good idea, but

what should really happen is that people convicted of animal abuse should receive extensive therapy. there is def something wrong with you if you abuse animals.
you should get fixed if this is you. before you move on to humans, if you havent already.

they also should not me allowed to own guns.

[mike_c]

4. no

I had to really search my soul on this one, because I have so little personal empathy for people who mistreat animals. But dammit-- what use is the justice system if we think the punishment imposed for any crime must be extended into a lifelong shaming for people AFTER they've completed the actual punishment assigned by the court for their crimes? A punishment is either adequate or it's not. If it is, then once it's concluded the convicted person should be free to begin again, and try to live a law abiding life. If the punishment is insufficient, then it needs to be reexamined and made more adequate. These "registries" are a life-long extension of the punishments that people have already endured.

[Stonepounder]

5. I agree it is a tough call.

St. Ronnie did us a monstrous disservice when he basically did away with mental health care. Animal abuse is a psychological issue (as well as a criminal one), and needs to be dealt with as such. Michael Vick is a poster boy for animal abuse. Has he really reformed, or has he just decided to stay away from it for the sake of his millions? Given that we can no longer mandate psychological treatment for this type of behavior, then I would be in favor of some sort of registry - least one that could be accessed by licenses breeders and accredited rescue organizations.

[NaturalHigh]

6. K and R.

I'm cool with that.

[ellenrr]

7. great idea.

[MBS]

8. EXCELLENT. n/t