Fuller picture of animal abuse is needed

One of the challenges in trying to deal intelligently with the animal abuse problem has been the difficulty getting a good handle on the extent of it. Legislation approved last year that took effect the first of this year should improve the statistical information. Until the law went into effect, there was no central repository of information about animal abuse cases. While the NJ SPCA and affiliated county SPCAs kept records, there was no requirement that they be reported. While that has changed, the quality of the information must be improved. The state needs a central registry that will include better information about the nature of the abuse, and information about those charged and convicted of animal cruelty crimes that can be shared across jurisdictions.
Everyone knows that animal cruelty is a problem. Many believe it is getting worse. It's clearly a serious enough problem to warrant detailed statistical information that can be used to help shape policies and laws that can address it with all the facts at hand.