L.I. Lawmaker Proposes Animal Abuser Registry

RIVERHEAD, NY (WCBS 880) - A Long Island legislator is proposing a new registry for animal abusers, as WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports.

Just this past week, in Suffolk County, authorities say they found a dog tortured in a wooded area. The dog had just given birth.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports from Long Island

Suffolk County Legislator Jon Cooper wants a new animal abuse registry, similar to the sex offender registry, where someone convicted of cruelty to animals will be put on a list -- with photo identification -- for everyone to see. Abusers would also not be allowed to purchase or adopt pets in the future.

Convicted abusers would also pay an annual fee of $50 which would go to help maintain the registry so taxpayers woulnd't have to fund it.

"I can't think of anything more cowardly than for someone to torture an innocent animal," Cooper told Sophia Hall.

Cooper says this registry will not only help pets but people as well, saying, "Many studies show a correlation between animal abuse and abuse of children and people."