Sen. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Township, is proposing a series of bills that would seek to increase animal abuse reporting requirements and regulate animal rescue operations in the state.

One of the bills would require rescues to register with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and would require them to report animal intake, movement and other major actions.

Lucido said he's seen examples of self-described rescues that are more an individual hoarding animals or otherwise not conforming to ethical practices.

"It's just a mess," he said. "You've got shelters here in Macomb County that aren't really shelters."

The measure has received support from some animal advocates.

"Michigan Humane is supportive of a state statute that will bring appropriate and much-needed oversight to Michigan’s home-based rescues,” Matt Pepper, president and CEO of Michigan Humane Society, said in a news release. “As home-based rescues become more prominent, we believe that it is critically important that all animal welfare organizations be held to the same animal care standards.”

Sandy Kilby, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Clair County SNAP said the issue of improperly run animal rescues is an important issue, but would like to see more firm enforcement language in the bill.

"Does MDARD have the staff to investigate and follow through?" Kilby said in a written statement.

Kilby also expressed concerns about how animal rescue was defined in a copy of the bill she reviewed, which she believes gives too much latitude for where a self-described rescue receives its animals.

St. Clair County Animal Control Director Erika Stroman said the version of the bill she reviewed allowed for individuals to be considered animal rescues, and she would prefer this designation be restricted to organizations.

"The idea is great, I am totally on board with a regulatory bill for rescues, but the problem is enforcement and the wording has too many holes in it for me," Stroman said.

Stroman echoed Kilby's concern about whether resources exist to properly enforce the provisions.

Another bill would require veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse.

Dr. Robyn Limberg of Riverview Veterinary Center said animal abuse can appear in different forms, but an animal sustaining an abnormally high amount of injuries like broken bones or burns can be an obvious signs.

Limberg said recurring bite wounds can be a warning sign of bait dogs used in dog fighting, but these animals are not often brought to veterinarians because the abusers know not to draw attention to themselves

Limberg said she's reported a few cases over the years, but has not heard about the final result of any given investigation.

Other cases are more blurry and straddle the line with neglect, Limberg said. Neglect can add up to abuse, but sometimes it comes from a place of ignorance and can be corrected, she said.

"At what point does poor husbandry due to ignorance become neglect due to laziness become abuse due to intention?" Limberg wrote in an email. "Is the client that tried to heal his pet's mange with a kerosene rinse that his dad and grandpa swore by guilty of abuse, or just of ignorance? It's a hard line to draw."

Lucido said the measure will include immunity for veterinarians so that they can report suspected abuse without legal exposure.

"Do your job without risk of harm," Lucido said.

Aside from legal immunity, Limberg expressed concerns that if a vet reported a possible case of abuse, and turned out to be wrong, the vet's practice could face severe backlash from clients and the broader community.

"For that reason alone, while I agree that reporting abuse is important, unless there is also an associated legislation to protect the reporters of abuse, I'd have a hard time supporting a legal mandate to do the right thing," Limberg wrote in an email.

In May, Lucido proposed a bill that would require Child Protective Services employees to report suspected animal abuse during investigations of child abuse. The other bills have either already been introduced, or were in the process of being formally introduced earlier this week.

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