‘Logan’s Law’ Would Stop Animal Abusers from Adopting Pets

(Updated; originally published on Dec. 20, 2016.) Convicted animal abusers wouldn’t be allowed to adopt pets under legislation awaiting Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s signature. The state House of Representatives passed the bills on Thursday.

The bills would require animal shelters and animal control organizations to check the registry before animals are adopted. State Rep. Paul Muxlow, R-Brown City, said the legislation is a compromise from an earlier version that passed the Michigan House Judiciary Committee.

It stops short of creating an animal abuse registry, which was included in earlier versions, but does give shelter officials an opportunity to do background checks before adopting pets. The registry was criticized as too costly.

“It’s a compromise, it’s not exactly what I’d like to have,” Muxlow told WWJ/CBS Detroit. “But I’m pretty excited, a couple million people who’ve been waiting for something.”

Snyder has 14 days to sign the law.

The legislation — House Bill 4353 and House Bill 4355 — are referred part of a package of legislation known as “Logan’s Law” in reference to a Siberian Husky that died after having acid thrown in his face while he was caged in a backyard kennel.

Matt Falk, the 11-year-old dog’s owner, secured him in his outdoor kennel on March 12, 2012. The dog was attacked as he slept, and died about four months later, Falk wrote in a Facebook post.
Last week, Falk proclaimed the passage of the House legislation a partial victory. Two more pieces of legislation — Senate Bill 219 and Senate Bill 220 — would extend protections.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” he wrote in a post on the Logan’s Law Facebook page, but said he is confident the the Senate will pass the law.

Falk thanked supporters, but also his dog.

“What a great dog he was,” he wrote. “So thanks for being you Logi. You did not die in vain.”

Photo via Facebook, used with permission