LANSING, MI (AP)-- A bid to make Michigan the first state with an animal abuser registry has been dropped by lawmakers over concerns about cost and other issues.
Instead, the state could soon require that criminal background checks be done on every would-be pet adopter at Michigan animal shelters. The $10 fee for each check could be waived for shelters.
Judges would have to order defendants convicted of crimes against animals not to own animals for at least five years.
Cracking down on animal abuse has broad support, though some dog breeders question doing tens of thousands of background checks to flag a small number of abusers.
The proposed law would be named for Logan, a Siberian husky that died after an assailant dumped acid on his face near Port Huron.
