Top 5 States with THE Best Laws for Animals

With all this talk about “ag-gag” laws, it is easy to start losing faith in the ability of our country’s legal system to protect animals. But I BESEECH you (yes, I used the word beseech to show how serious I am!) not to lose hope just yet!

Every year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund comes out with a list, ranking the country’s best and worst states for animal protection laws, showing us how much progress has ACTUALLY been made in the past 12 months. The ALDF has worked for the past three decades to help end the abuse and suffering of animals across the U.S., by challenging our country’s legal system to enforce anti-cruelty laws and push for more humane legislation. While life for farm animals is still rough, the social climate is absolutely poised to change for the better.

This year’s annual list shows that life for animals across the country is slowly, but surely improving thanks to all the hard work of animal lovers, advocates, and legal teams. Not only have these five topped ALDF’s list for the past few years in a row, but they are constantly evolving, looking for new ways to tighten abuse restrictions and set the stage for the other 45 states to make a positive change!

It is clear that public opinion is the driving force behind the majority of these laws, so keep on doing what you are doing! If these five states show us anything, it is that every voice counts.

1. Illinois

Illinois ranks at the top of list for its superior Animal rights legislation. Illinois has enacted felony charges for animal cruelty, neglect, fighting, abuse, and sexual assault as well as provisions to prosecute repeat offenders.

2. Oregon

Oregon has made ALDF’s Best List for a number of years, but this year, it jumped up to second place by enacting felony penalties for animal neglect.

3. Michigan

In addition to their already existing animal protection laws, Illinois bumped up the charges for animal fighting to a RICO offense — essentially deeming animals fights a form of organized crime with the penalties of high fines and possible jail time.

4. Maine

Like Illinois, Maine offers felony charges for cruelty, abandonment, neglect, fighting, and sexual assault! ALDF, however, hopes to see an improvement in the felony provisions for neglect charges which we will ideally be put in place by next year!

5. California

California has yet to initiate felony charges for animal abandonment and sexual assault, but does have felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, and fighting. California is also working to improve “cost of care” for animals to encourage pet guardians to seek medical attention for their pets.

To read ALDF’s full report and see where your state ranks, you can download the PDF on their website, or click here for the web version. So, hats off to ALDF for all their hard work this year and don’t forget how important YOUR help is to see some of these improvements come to fruition next year!

Image Source: Joseph Reicherts/Wikipedia Commons