LANSING, MI (AP)-- Animal shelters would be required to run background checks on people looking to adopt pets and could deny adoptions to anyone convicted of animal abuse under bills moving through the Michigan Legislature.
A House committee approved the bills nearly unanimously Tuesday.
The two bills would specifically require municipal-run animal control shelters and private animal shelters to run the background checks on anyone wishing to adopt.
Someone convicted of animal abuse in the past five years would not be allowed to adopt. Someone convicted more than five years ago could still be denied an adoption.
Examples of animal abuse include animal neglect or cruelty or using them for fighting.