Animal abusers may soon be treated like sex offenders in California. The state is considering an animal abuse registry.
But it’s controversial…not so much because of the registry. Most people, it seems, are in favor of creating more protection for animals. No, it's controversial because of the cost. Protecting animals could mean owners having to start paying more for dog food.
Each year, the Humane Society of Utah investigates hundreds of animal abuse cases. And that's why, at the shelter, they say they are encouraged by what they are seeing out west.
"We're very excited to hear about it to be honest,” says Carl Arky with the Humane Society of Utah. “We would be all in favor of that...would love to see it in California and then spread to other states like Utah."
But, there’s a catch. Paying for the registry will cost about $1 million. And that cost could be subsidized by the price of dog food going up a few cents per pound.
Arky admits, they are worried about that added cost.
“People need to think about this, I think, a little bit more. Because in the economic climate that we're in, we're seeing a lot people turn animals in [to the Humane Society of Utah] because of the cost."
Such a registry is not currently being considered in Utah. In 2008, a similar bill failed in Tennessee.
