Suffolk passes bill aimed at animal abuse

The Suffolk County Legislature passed a bill Tuesday that would bar pet stores, breeders and shelters from selling or giving animals to people listed on a county registry of animal abusers that's expected to be up and running this summer.

The new law, which would go into effect late this year, would require all adults buying pets to present ID at most places where they can get animals. Sellers would be required to check the IDs against the registry.

County Executive Steve Levy's office is reviewing the bill, said spokesman Dan Aug. However, Aug cautioned that the measure is so broad that pet shop owners would be required to check customers' names against the database even when selling goldfish.

Sponsor Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) said the bill was broadly written because "you value the life of an animal or not," and that pet stores, breeders and shelters hadn't expressed opposition. "Whether it's birds or dogs or cats or fish or turtles, once you begin valuing one life over another it's a slippery slope," Cooper said.

The bill would create fines of $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second and $1,500 for each subsequent violation.