Lawmakers Weigh Registry For Animal Cruelty Convicts

Pet shops and animal shelters would have a new way of ensuring that a pet is winding up in the care of a responsible owner if legislation under consideration in Massachusetts becomes law.

The proposal calls for creation of an animal abusers registry that would include the names of people with prior convictions for animal cruelty. The information would not be made available to the general public, but could be accessed by animal breeders, shelters and pet stores.

Supporters of the measure, scheduled for a hearing before a legislative panel on Wednesday, say it would help keep animals away from people with a history of abuse.

Tennessee this year became the first state to pass a similar law and bills are pending in several other states.