Senate committee hears bill linking animal and child abuse reporting

By Anika Austvold, Missouri News Network
JEFFERSON CITY — The Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee heard testimony Wednesday for a bill that would modify provisions relating to abuse and neglect reporting of both children and animals.
Senate Bill 899 is sponsored by Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette. It aims to create a cross-reporting system between child welfare authorities and animal control officers.
Through this system, investigators who handle cases of child abuse, elder abuse or domestic violence would receive training to identify signs of animal abuse. Likewise, animal control officers and others who investigate animal cruelty would be trained to recognize warning signs of abuse against people.
If an investigator uncovers evidence of a different type of abuse while responding to a case, they would be required to report it to the appropriate agency for further investigation.
McCreery has worked on various versions of the legislation since taking office in 2022. She calls it a preventative measure to better protect Missouri’s most vulnerable residents.
“Under this bill, I truly believe that lives can be saved across the board,” she said.
This bill is similar to House Bill 2292, sponsored by Rep. Holly Jones, R-Eureka. It recently unanimously passed out of its House committee, signaling bipartisan support for a cross-reporting system.
Supporters from child advocacy groups, animal welfare organizations and law enforcement testified that cases of abuse in the home rarely occur in isolation.
Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for AARP Missouri, said abusers often use pets as tools of control, harming animals to intimidate vulnerable members of the household.
Ashlyn McCarthy-Sinclair of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation said cases of animal abuse are often more visible than child abuse. This puts animal control officers in a position to notice warning signs that might otherwise go unreported.
Although officers may want to report suspected child abuse, Sinclair said they are not mandated reporters and must instead call the Children’s Division hotline. In some cases, she said, officers have waited hours on hold while juggling other calls.
Designating animal control officers as mandated reporters would allow them to file reports directly through the state’s online system and continue their work without delay, McCarthy-Sinclair said.
Claire Wyatt, a former assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, also testified in favor, saying the bill would create a “much-needed collaborative network” among mandatory reporters, allowing agencies to share information before situations escalate.
Those opposed to the bill raised concerns about expanding authority tied to animal investigations, particularly in rural communities.
“In rural areas, we are more cautious about who enters our properties and why,” said Karen Strange, president of Missouri Federation of Animal Owners. Strange testified against the bill.
JoEllyn Klepacki, director of education for the Humane Society of Missouri, urged the committee to consider the broader impact of supporting the legislation.
“You do not protect one vulnerable being while ignoring another,” Klepacki said. “Safety is interconnected. Protecting animals can be a pathway to protecting people.”