The state Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, meeting in Utica yesterday, heard from law enforcement personnel and animal cruelty watchgroups on cruelty to companion animals.

Senator Joseph Griffo, (R-Rome), who hosted the session, said the committee will consider legislation to curb what is seen as a rise in animal abuse.

Griffo said that in the past, he has supported bills that would strengthen the protection that state law provides to companion animals, and that he hopes recent cases will spark urgency from fellow legislators in Albany to take action.

Griffo is the sponsor of a bipartisan bill calling to establish an animal abuser registry statewide, with community notification requirements. So far there has not been a vote on that bill.

Griffo said that he would also like to see Buster’s Law tightened. Buster’s Law addresses aggravated cruelty to animals, making it a felony charge if a person is found guilty intentionally killing or causing serious physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty.

The law applies to pets and not hunting, fishing, or farming animals. It was coined for a cat named Buster that was deliberately set on fire.