New Bill Aims To Keep Convicted Animal Abusers From Adopting Pets In Michigan

LANSING (WWJ) -- A Michigan bill designed to place animal abusers on a statewide registry is now headed to the governor's desk.

The bill -- which would also keep animals from being adopted by convicted animal abusers -- was passed by the State House on Thursday.

State Representative Paul Muxlow says animal shelters and animal control organizations would be required to check with the state prior to adopting-out an animal.

"It's a compromise, it's not exactly what I'd like to have," Muxlow said. "But I'm pretty excited, a couple million people who've been waiting for something."

"It is time for Michigan to take a strong stance against crimes related to animal abuse, neglect and cruelty," Muxlow said in May after the bill made it through the House Judiciary Committee. "I believe these bills are a step in the right the direction and a proactive approach to protecting our animals by promoting a pet's safety and well-being."

The original bill aimed to allow animal shelters to use the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) to conduct background checks on individuals adopting animals.

"I'm excited to see something done, we did lose a little bit of its force," Muxlow said this week. "In the meantime, the state police at one time promised ICHAT exclusive use for checking criminal activity for animals. Now, they've kind of termed it, used the word 'permissive.'"