Animal Abuse Reporting Rules Would Expand Under New Bill

A state lawmaker wants to expand requirements for reporting of animal abuse.

Under current state law, veterinarians have to report abuse if an animal is suspected to have been used for fighting. But Madison Democratic Sen. Fred Risser said that’s only part of the problem and that reports should be made on abuse inflicted in other ways.

“There’s nothing in the (current) law that protects animals in case of abuse by human beings. This bill would expand the law to that effect,” he said.

According to Risser, 27 other states have laws that require veterinarians to report such animal abuse to law enforcement or a humane officer. Under Risser’s bill, veterinarians would be immune from civil liability for filing such a report.

Risser introduced a similar bill two years ago.