Detroit Rep. Looking To Set Up Nation's First Animal Abuse Registry

DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan could be the first state to set up an Animal Abuse registry.

Under a House bill introduced by Detroit Representative Harvey Santana, people convicted of animal cruelty would have to pay a $50 fee to register in a data base with their name, photo and address.

"Let's say for example, this abuser wants to go and adopt an animal, well they go to whatever human society, whatever animal shelter in the state of Michigan - their name is going to pop up and that shelter is legally obligated to not release that animal to that person's custody," said Santana.

Santana contends the registry could also be a resource for law enforcement officials looking for serial killers -- because many of them start off abusing animals.

"It helps them to identify ... in many cases a serial killer. If you look at the notorious serial killers in our society, they all started off abusing animals," said Santana.

Currently no states have such a registry.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) opposes the idea -- saying its unconstitutional for governments to impose additional punishments on people who've already paid their debt to society.