Local officials say new laws in Dutchess County will help keep our four-legged friends from getting into the wrong hands. 

"Animal abuse is a big problem in the area, not even just in Dutchess County, but all over," said Officer Brian Levy.

The county is considering an animal abuse registry and an animal tethering law. The registry would bar people who have been convicted of certain animal abuse crimes to own an animal for period of 15 years, and would require them to register with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office. 

The tethering law would create rules for when and how a dog could be tethered outside a person’s home.

"These are animals that are starved, neglected, abused, used for not great reasons like dog fighting, that kind of thing," said Lynne Meloccaro, SPCA executive director.

Right now, the SPCA has a 'do not adopt' list, but Officer Levy says that's not enough.  

"They are on a 'do not adopt list' [but it] doesn't stop them right now from going to a pet store or some other location and getting an animal and doing the same thing," Levy said.

That's a problem that would be solved with the registry. Any place in the county that sells or adopts out animals, will have access to the information. The SPCA says these laws would not only help solve crimes against animals, but also help keep people safe. 

"Sometimes it's simply poverty and inability to take care of an animal, but sometimes and more often than you think, it's connected to domestic violence situations."

Both of these proposed laws are in the beginning stages. There will be a discussion and a vote at the legislative meeting next month on August 12.