New York is among 11 states considering proposals to create registries of animal abusers.
The goal of such registries is to prevent abusers from being able to obtain other animals. But backers say they could also raise red flags about people who may commit other violent crimes.
Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Son of Sam and the Columbine High School shooters just a few of the many infamous criminals with a history of hurting animals, before going on to harm humans.
The other states mulling registries are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Washington and Hawaii.