Animal Legal Defense Fund Releases 2023 State Animal Protection Law Rankings

Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund releases a report detailing and ranking animal protection laws in all 50 states. The ALDF is one of the top animal legal advocacy organizations in the United States. For over 3 decades, the ALDF has worked to leverage the law to positively impact animal welfare. Part of this includes an annual report documenting how different states and territories rank in animal welfare. Their annual report analyzes and details how strong each of the U.S. states and territories’ animal welfare laws are. Additionally, it looks at new major trends in animal welfare law. This year’s report is the 18th annual U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report. 

Top and Lowest Ranking States and Territories

This year, Oregon moved into the number one spot; this means that it is the state with the best legal protection for animals, according to the ALDF’s analysis. Maine, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Colorado join Oregon as the top five states with the strongest legal protections for animals. 

The worst state for animal legal welfare in 2023 was North Dakota, ranking as the 50th state. The other four lowest-scoring states were Alabama, Idaho, South Carolina, and Kentucky. 

The report also looks at legal protection for animals in U.S. territories. Of these territories, Guam scored the highest in terms of legal protection for animals. The territory with the world’s protection for animals was the American Samoa Islands. 

Most Improved State

In 2023, the U.S. state that most improved its legal protection for animals was Connecticut, according to the ALDF report. The state rose to rank 11th in 2023, up from its previous rank of 30th in 2022. This improvement can be attributed to a 2023 piece of legislation that greatly strengthened animal protection laws in the state. This new legislation requires veterinarians in Connecticut to report suspected animal cruelty. Additionally, veterinarians will be granted immunity for reports made in good faith.

Connecticut’s new legislation also closed a legal loophole in the state’s law prohibiting the sexual assault of animals. Closing this loophole greatly strengthens the state’s animal welfare laws. Lastly, anyone convicted of animal cruelty will be stopped from possessing, adopting, owning, or residing with an animal for five years following their conviction. 

Important New Trends

The most important new trends in animal welfare legislation are also highlighted by the ALDF’s annual report. In 2023, the organization chose to highlight the rise of “bond-forfeit” laws. These laws address the treatment of animals who are rescued from animal cruelty or abuse cases. 

Often, animals who are seized as part of an animal cruelty case are held as “evidence” while the case is ongoing. For some animals, this means that they may spend weeks, months, or years in a shelter. During this time, they are still considered the property of the defendant. 

“Bond-forfeit” laws require that defendants either post a bond to cover the costs of caring for the animal or forfeit their claim to them. These laws can ensure that, rather than being held throughout the trial process, animals who have been victims of neglect or cruelty can be adopted into loving homes.

Impacts

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s annual report serves to highlight both strengths and weaknesses of animal legal protection in the United States. The report may call attention to certain states’ strong laws, and encourage other jurisdictions to strengthen their own. Ultimately, the organization hopes that legal animal welfare protections will be strengthened across the country.

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