Animal Welfare: Laws in Effect Across the 50 U.S. States Show Significant Disparities

Every year for the past twelve years, a report has provided a qualitative ranking of laws on animal welfare enacted in the United States. The 50 states are ranked according to the level of protection provided by their legislation. The best rubs shoulders with the worst. In the 2017 rankings, Illinois remains in first place among the U.S. states that are most respectful of animals, while Kentucky, bringing up the rear for the eleventh consecutive year, ranks last. Pennsylvania, ranked 24th, is the state that has made the most progress in the rankings, moving up 20 spots in one year.   The Animal Legal Defense Fund has released its 12th annual report, which ranks the laws governing animal protection in all 50 U.S. states. For the tenth consecutive year, the undisputed leader, Illinois, holds the top spot, followed by Oregon (2nd), California (3rd), Maine (4th), and Rhode Island (5^th). At the other end of the spectrum, however, Kentucky brings up the rear among the states with the weakest laws regarding animal welfare, trailing Iowa (49th), Wyoming (48th), Utah (47th), and North Dakota (46th). A patchwork of national and local laws provides basic animal protection in the United States. However, the strength of these laws varies considerably from state to state, making this ranking essential for understanding the landscape. It is based on a comprehensive review of anti-cruelty legislation within each jurisdiction. It is the longest-running and most reliable report on the subject, revealing which states take animal protection and animal welfare seriously.   Pennsylvania, having climbed 20 spots in one year, shows the greatest improvement and now ranks 24th. This is the result of major improvements, notably through the introduction of a new criminal provision penalizing first-time offenders convicted of acts of aggravated animal cruelty (such as torture) and the establishment of civil immunity for veterinarians who report suspected animal abuse . Nevada also made significant progress in 2017, climbing 16 spots, partly due to the passage of a bestiality law. Ohio, New Hampshire, Texas, and Vermont have also enacted laws against this sexual practice, with Texas even making it a misdemeanor. Furthermore, the 2017 ranking highlights a legislative trend aimed at ending the suffering of animals that die in overheated cars. Public awareness campaigns have helped improve the situation, but the law also has a role to play. The report shows that more states are granting civil immunity to those who rescue animals in distress left alone in vehicles in direct sunlight. Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Oregon have thus enacted legislation to combat instances of “irresponsible endangerment.” In total, more than 25 states have passed “hot car” laws.* Overall, more than half of the states have significantly improved their animal protection laws over the past five years. These legislative advances take various forms: harsher criminal penalties for offenders, stricter minimum standards of care, mandatory reporting of cases of animal cruelty by veterinarians and other professionals, reimbursement of costs associated with caring for animals subjected to animal abuse , counseling and mental health assessments for offenders, bans on animal ownership following a conviction , animal protection in cases of domestic violence, criminalization of animal fighting, and more. This annual ranking of animal welfare by U.S. states provides a tool for animal advocates, shelters, and even lawmakers to measure the effectiveness of enacted laws, as well as to raise awareness of the legislative changes needed to further enhance animal welfare.   See also http://aldf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Rankings-Report-2017_FINAL.pdf http://aldf.org/resources/advocating-for-animals/animal-protection-laws-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-canada/   https://youtu.be/jqs_mVhxOA0