The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) has released its 19th annual U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report, ranking all 50 states on their animal protection laws. Oregon claimed the top spot for the second year in a row, while North Dakota ranked last. South Carolina was the most-improved jurisdiction in 2024, rising seven places by implementing bond-or-forfeit laws for seized animals.
A new trend highlighted in the report is laws including animal cruelty in definitions of “coercive control” to help human victims of abuse. ALDF Senior Staff Attorney Kathleen Wood emphasized the need for stronger animal protection laws across all states.
The report, based on a comprehensive review of over 3,600 pages of statutes, is the longest-running and most authoritative of its kind. It aims to advocate for better animal protection laws in all states. The full report can be accessed on the ALDF website.
Source
Photo credit aldf.org