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Animal Abuse Registry

Is a State Animal Abuse Registry a good idea?


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haymarket

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A state legislator in Michigan is proposing that the State enact an Animal Abuser registry modeled after other states Sex Offender Registry system.

Legislator from Detroit introduces bill to create an animal abuser registry | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

In Wayne County alone, the Humane Society investigated over 5,000 cases of animal abuse in 2011. No other state has this although similar legislation has been introduced in at least five states.

Is this an idea whose time has come?

Absolutely an idea whose time has come. Why not use the internet to mark animal abusers with a scarlet letter? I'm allll for it. Not only would it identify these horrible people, it would raise awareness for the rest of us to report it when we see it.
 
This is a great idea not only how it would track those that have a track record of such activity and prevent ownership for such people, but it would effect how animal abuse is perceived. For example in treating those with antisocial behavior or a history of domestic violence. This would be a good tool for those who treat the abusers and help toward a better understanding of the psychology and /or behavioral pattern of the abusers. Not to mention keep these abusive pricks away from animals.

The Connection between Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty

Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence
 
A state legislator in Michigan is proposing that the State enact an Animal Abuser registry modeled after other states Sex Offender Registry system.

If it is modeled after the sex offender registry, it is bound to be riddled with the same logical quandaries, and real issues the list has now - from the ease of getting onto it, to the philosophical/moral issues associated with labeling people after they've committed a crime and paid their debt to society. IMO, if we allow ourselves to snap to an idea on an emotional note, and ignore the real questions surrounding the idea being supported emotionally, we're bound to make some grave errors - and do more harm than good.
 
If it is modeled after the sex offender registry, it is bound to be riddled with the same logical quandaries, and real issues the list has now - from the ease of getting onto it, to the philosophical/moral issues associated with labeling people after they've committed a crime and paid their debt to society. IMO, if we allow ourselves to snap to an idea on an emotional note, and ignore the real questions surrounding the idea being supported emotionally, we're bound to make some grave errors - and do more harm than good.

The only problem I have with the sex offender registry is how they categorize people as sex offenders. An 18-year-old having sex with a16-year-old shouldn't make the list, as an example. Not sure if it does...which points out that a two-sentence explanation ought to accompany every name.
 
The cats and I have discussed this and we believe that such a registry would have to be held to certain standards such as repeat offenders or egregious offenders. Yesterday we read about a man who was ticketed for "tying his cat to a rock" and we thought that this case was more about police over-authority than any bad intentions or harm to the cat.

To show you how illogical these "systems" can be, I, a well-known cat rescuer, am barred from adopting at the local pound because I've adopted (and re-homed at great personal expense) "too many" cats. Animal Control is well aware of how well my charges were treated but technically, I'm in violation. Frankly, I don't give a **** because I really can't afford to rescue any more cats and I'm quite content to live with my own "cat family". But, in this stupid world, I might have ended up on this registry and that would shame me, a person who has done nothing but good deeds.
 
I do not see how this can better society.

How will this awareness do any good? If there is a "convicted animal rights abuser" in the neighborhood, will it make you keep a better eye on your pets? Will there be restrictions on where they live? "No closer than 500ft from a pet store"?
 
I do not see how this can better society.

How will this awareness do any good? If there is a "convicted animal rights abuser" in the neighborhood, will it make you keep a better eye on your pets? Will there be restrictions on where they live? "No closer than 500ft from a pet store"?


Good question.

Anyone attempting to buy an animal from a breeder, store or adopt one from a shelter would have to go through a quick search of the data base to make sure they were not on it. If they were on it, they would be denied the opportunity to obtain another animal.

They would not be barred from going into or near a pet store.
 
No.


What's next, an index of habitual speeders? Seatbelt scofflaws?


We've arguably abused the sex offender registry already.
 
There are thousands of free animals on Craigs List and there would be no problem getting an animal to abuse so I doubt this registry would do any good at all.

Good question.

Anyone attempting to buy an animal from a breeder, store or adopt one from a shelter would have to go through a quick search of the data base to make sure they were not on it. If they were on it, they would be denied the opportunity to obtain another animal.

They would not be barred from going into or near a pet store.
 
A little overboard in my opinion, not everything that qualifies as animal abuse is as heinous as it sounds, such as hunting animals for their meat or fur, etc.. Plus, the PETA folks are known to be moonbats, why give them specific names to target?
 
Good question.

Anyone attempting to buy an animal from a breeder, store or adopt one from a shelter would have to go through a quick search of the data base to make sure they were not on it. If they were on it, they would be denied the opportunity to obtain another animal.

They would not be barred from going into or near a pet store.

So, to admittedly construct a straw man.....

Would you make a registry for DUI offenders to keep them from buying a car?

Also, how would you prevent private sales? Would you require every person to check the registry when he gives away the family of cats he discovers under his barn?
 
A little overboard in my opinion, not everything that qualifies as animal abuse is as heinous as it sounds, such as hunting animals for their meat or fur, etc.. Plus, the PETA folks are known to be moonbats, why give them specific names to target?

the legislation has nothing to do with PETA. It would not impact hunting, nor fur trapping or sales or use.
 
So, to admittedly construct a straw man.....

Would you make a registry for DUI offenders to keep them from buying a car?

Also, how would you prevent private sales? Would you require every person to check the registry when he gives away the family of cats he discovers under his barn?

It would not impact private backyard type sales. The law can only do so much. This is a positive step in the right direction. Please do not make the perfect the enemy of the good.
 
Anyone attempting to buy an animal from a breeder, store or adopt one from a shelter would have to go through a quick search of the data base to make sure they were not on it. If they were on it, they would be denied the opportunity to obtain another animal.

Why?
People make mistakes, people also change. One could be in a situation that s/he wants to make it up to the animals and you want to refuse that? For example, I as a child hunted sparrows with :catapult: . Now I've realized my mistake and don't do it anymore. Instead I feed them as soon as have a chance. What now?
 
Why?
People make mistakes, people also change. One could be in a situation that s/he wants to make it up to the animals and you want to refuse that? For example, I as a child hunted sparrows with :catapult: . Now I've realized my mistake and don't do it anymore. Instead I feed them as soon as have a chance. What now?

How do you make it up to those sparrows you killed?
 
Good question.

Anyone attempting to buy an animal from a breeder, store or adopt one from a shelter would have to go through a quick search of the data base to make sure they were not on it. If they were on it, they would be denied the opportunity to obtain another animal.

They would not be barred from going into or near a pet store.

But, IMO, that still runs into an issue of duration [after all, if somebody offended once, and didn't for 10, 20, 30, 40 yrs, why should they be treated the same?] - and whether or not it would be better served as part of their sentence.

The thing these lists, the ideas of proverbial scarlet letters misses is that behavior is not a constant, in that people change over time for better or worse - and to perpetually treat them like they'll always do something - as opposed to always living with the fact that they DID something - with things like this just inherently feels wrong. I do make the distinction between things like the Sex offender's registry, this idea, and thigns like sentencing repeat offenders in a court of law, of course.
 
I am all for perverts and sickos being readily identifiable and this includes animal abusers. First off abusing animals is horrific in and of itself, secondly these freaks sometimes move on to humans for bigger kicks so they would be worth questioning if some local kid disappears.
 
No.


What's next, an index of habitual speeders? Seatbelt scofflaws?


We've arguably abused the sex offender registry already.

There is already a means in place for the above, it seems to work fine:

For example:

When you are convicted of a traffic violation, the court notifies the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). DMV does the following:
  • Posts the conviction to your driving record
  • Assigns demerit points to you according to the severity of the offense
  • Issues an order of suspension, if applicable
  • Issues an order requiring the successful completion of a driver improvement clinic, if applicable
  • Notifies your insurance company upon request


[Length of time stays on your record]

Habitual Offenders
  • Driving after being declared a habitual offender (11 years)
  • Allowing a person to drive when suspended for habitual offender and/or driving while intoxicated (3 years)

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv115.pdf
 
It would not impact private backyard type sales. The law can only do so much. This is a positive step in the right direction. Please do not make the perfect the enemy of the good.

Much in the same way of private gun sales and background checks and waiting limits...

As for the straw man.... The DUI reference.
 
But, IMO, that still runs into an issue of duration [after all, if somebody offended once, and didn't for 10, 20, 30, 40 yrs, why should they be treated the same?] - and whether or not it would be better served as part of their sentence.

The thing these lists, the ideas of proverbial scarlet letters misses is that behavior is not a constant, in that people change over time for better or worse - and to perpetually treat them like they'll always do something - as opposed to always living with the fact that they DID something - with things like this just inherently feels wrong. I do make the distinction between things like the Sex offender's registry, this idea, and thigns like sentencing repeat offenders in a court of law, of course.

that is a valid point. What sort of duration do you think would be reasonable to keep them listed?
 
Much in the same way of private gun sales and background checks and waiting limits...

As for the straw man.... The DUI reference.

The DUI reference was yours - not mine. Where is the straw man in this proposed law? This is NOT about guns.
 
There is no human abuse registry other than sex offenders. So no.
 
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