AUGUSTA – When there’s animal abuse going on in a home, there’s a good chance there’s human abuse, state Rep. Deborah Simpson, D-Auburn, argued in two bills she has proposed.

On Wednesday, the judiciary committee heard from officials on an act to mandate animal control officers to report human abuse, and an act to permit medical and social service professionals to report animal cruelty, both coming from the Linkage Project, which connects the abuses.

Several people from animal protection organizations supported both bills. The only opposition came from Jeff Austin, legislative advocate for the Maine Municipal Association, who said in small towns, animals officers have enough to do.

Simpson said the bill would simply add the officers to the list of others mandated to report human abuse. It would not require any additional training, just “an extra set of eyes.”

Often, neighbors will report animal abuse before reporting human abuse, she said.

“This bill acknowledges the important role that animal control officers play in protecting pets and people by granting them liability protection for reporting in good faith,” Simpson said in her testimony.

Animal control officers come in two forms, Austin said after the hearing.

In larger municipalities, they are trained law enforcement officials, and therefore are already mandated to report human abuse.

In smaller towns, they are volunteer citizens working on a stipend, and are simply the “dog catcher.” They do not handle many abuse cases, Austin said. With state mandates such as this, towns get pushed closer to hiring a professional for the position, thus raising taxes.

Rep. Abigail Holman, R-Fayette, had similar thoughts.

“Animal control officers don’t have the training,” she said. “That’s got to be a liability.”

However, Norma Worley, director of the Animal Welfare Program, said that animal control officers do get called to horrible situations, where they do see cases of abuse.

“I tell them, listen to your gut,” she said. “You’re not there to decide whether it is or isn’t abuse, only to report it.”

Maine State Police Maj. Timothy Doyle supported her.

“It’s another set of eyes in the field,” he said.

The other bill had no opposition.

Social and medical workers are hindered from reporting animal abuse because of confidentiality clauses, Simpson said. However, other committee members noted that they may call in anonymously.

“In issues of domestic violence, pets are threatened or harmed in an attempt to harm the partner,” Linda Jariz of the Linkage Project said.