Special Report

Best States for Dog Lovers

John Harrington, Cheyenne Buckingham

Published: July 14, 2018 11:56 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 9:00 pm

The phrase “it’s a dog’s life” referred to a hardscrabble existence. That’s because a dog’s life in older times was a life of subservience, of getting fed table scraps, living in harsh conditions, and being treated like, well, a dog.

Nowadays, a dog’s life is to be envied. We protect our animal best friends with strict abuse laws; give them more healthful food; they are accepted at more restaurants and hotels; they receive more services like grooming, training, and boarding; and they have access to more parks, hiking trails, and beaches.

Yet not all states are as accommodating to dogs as others. Animal-protection laws vary from state to state as is consideration in hotels and restaurants. Amenities for our four-legged friends are also more plentiful in some states than others.

24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the best states for dog lovers, using data obtained from the Animal Legal Defense Fund as well as other sources such as animal advocacy groups BringFido and the American Kennel Club among others.

Click here to see the best states for dog lovers.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

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50. New York
> Pct. of household with a dog: 29.0% (5th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Central Park, New York (1 of 27 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 518
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 13th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 4 years imprisonment and $5,000 fine (horse, mule, or cattle).

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49. Iowa
> Pct. of household with a dog: 33.4% (15th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Crow Creek Dog Park, Bettendorf (1 of 6 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 290
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 2nd lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and $7,500 fine.

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48. Nebraska
> Pct. of household with a dog: 33.8% (16th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Ta-ha-zouka Dog Park, Norfolk (1 of 2 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 224
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 25th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years imprisonment and 18 months post-release supervision and/or $10,000 fine.

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47. Ohio
> Pct. of household with a dog: 36.6% (25th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Fancyburg Park, Upper Arlington (1 of 19 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,299
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 24th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 1 year imprisonment and $2,500 fine.

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46. Maryland
> Pct. of household with a dog: 30.8% (9th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Federal Hill Park, Baltimore (1 of 10 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,043
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 8th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine.

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45. North Dakota
> Pct. of household with a dog: 36.0% (23rd lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Village West Dog Park, Fargo (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 63
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 5th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine.

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44. Pennsylvania
> Pct. of household with a dog: 32.9% (14th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Mario Lanza Dog Park, Philadelphia (1 of 18 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,754
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 24th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 7 years imprisonment and/or $15,000 fine.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

43. Connecticut
> Pct. of household with a dog: 28.3% (4th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Winslow Dog Park, Westport (1 of 6 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 634
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 21st lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine.

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42. Louisiana
> Pct. of household with a dog: 36.4% (25th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: South Park, Denham Springs (1 of 4 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 716
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 21st highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or $25,000 fine and 40 hours community service.

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41. Massachusetts
> Pct. of household with a dog: 23.6% (3rd lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Pilgrim Bark Park, Provincetown (1 of 14 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,001
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 14th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 10 years state prison and/or $10,000 fine.

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40. Wisconsin
> Pct. of household with a dog: 33.9% (18th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Currie Park Dog Exercise Area, Wauwatosa (1 of 15 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 983
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 22nd lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine.

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39. Minnesota
> Pct. of household with a dog: 31.9% (10th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Kiwanis Recreation Area, Mankato (1 of 13 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,007
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 22nd highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 4 years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

38. New Jersey
> Pct. of household with a dog: 32.4% (11th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Wood Dale County Park, Woodcliff Lake (1 of 8 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,264
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 9th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $15,000.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

37. Mississippi
> Pct. of household with a dog: 45.2% (6th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Petal Dog Park, Petal (1 of 2 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 316
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 11th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine.

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36. Indiana
> Pct. of household with a dog: 39.9% (19th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: 4 Paws Dog Park at University Park, Greenwood (1 of 11 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 830
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 18th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine.

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35. Utah
> Pct. of household with a dog: 29.4% (7th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Willow Creek Dog Pond, Park City (1 of 6 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 435
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 4th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine.

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34. Alaska
> Pct. of household with a dog: N/A
> Selected favorite dog park: Fairbanks Dog Park, Fairbanks (1 of 4 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 39
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 7th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and $50,000 fine.

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33. Oklahoma
> Pct. of household with a dog: 43.1% (10th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Edmond Dog Park at Bickham-Rudkin Park, Edmond (1 of 2 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 481
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 20th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years in prison, or 1 year in county jail, or $5,000 fine.

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32. Kentucky
> Pct. of household with a dog: 45.9% (4th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Iroquois Park, Louisville (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 621
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: the lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine.

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31. Michigan
> Pct. of household with a dog: 34.6% (19th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Tails and Trails Dog Park, Saugatuck (1 of 7 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,127
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 6th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 4 years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine and/or 500 hours community service and costs of prosecution and costs of care for the abused animal.

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30. Kansas
> Pct. of household with a dog: 42.4% (14th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Chisholm Creek Pet Resort Pup Park, Wichita (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 446
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 19th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 1 year imprisonment and $5,000 fine.

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29. Georgia
> Pct. of household with a dog: 40.1% (18th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Oakhurst Dog Park, Decatur (1 of 14 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,946
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 19th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 10 years prison and/or $100,000 fine.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

28. Texas
> Pct. of household with a dog: 44.0% (9th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Red Bud Isle, Austin (1 of 27 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 4,244
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 23rd lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 20 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine.

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27. South Dakota
> Pct. of household with a dog: 42.9% (11th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Falls Park, Sioux Falls (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 117
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 10th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to two years imprisonment in the state penitentiary and/or $4,000 fine.

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26. Alabama
> Pct. of household with a dog: 44.1% (7th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park, Birmingham (1 of 2 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 703
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 14th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 10 years imprisonment and $15,000 fine.

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25. Delaware
> Pct. of household with a dog: 33.8% (17th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Lums Pond Dog park, Bear (1 of 5 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 175
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 15th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years and fine determined by court.

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24. South Carolina
> Pct. of household with a dog: 38.5% (22nd highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Brittlebank Park, Charleston (1 of 8 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,266
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 16th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or fine at discretion of court, when injury or loss is $10,000 or more.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

23. Virginia
> Pct. of household with a dog: 35.4% (21st lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Bea Arthur Dog Park, Norfolk (1 of 18 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,699
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 23rd highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 10 years imprisonment and/or 1 year imprisonment and $2,500 fine (for livestock).

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22. Nevada
> Pct. of household with a dog: 37.1% (24th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Barkin’ Basin Dog Park at Wayne Bunker Park, Las Vegas (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 393
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 8th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 1 year county jail and/or $2,000 fine.

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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

21. Florida
> Pct. of household with a dog: 35.7% (22nd lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Lake Vista Dog Park, Saint Petersburg (1 of 23 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 6,096
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 16th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

20. Rhode Island
> Pct. of household with a dog: 29.3% (6th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: South Kingstown Dog Park, Wakefield (1 of 1 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 230
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 5th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment or $1,000 fine and treble civil damages if animal was owned by another and 50 years community service.

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19. North Carolina
> Pct. of household with a dog: 40.3% (16th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: PAWS Bark Park, Morehead City (1 of 13 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 2,425
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 18th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to six months imprisonment and/or fine at the discretion of the court.

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18. Washington
> Pct. of household with a dog: 36.2% (24th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Westcrest Dog Park, Seattle (1 of 13 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,226
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 12th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years state prison and/or $10,000 fine.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

17. Tennessee
> Pct. of household with a dog: 44.1% (8th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Charter Doyle PetSafe Dog Park, Knoxville (1 of 6 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,197
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 17th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 30 years imprisonment and $25,000 fine.

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16. Missouri
> Pct. of household with a dog: 46.0% (3rd highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Broemmelsiek Dog Park, Wentzville (1 of 4 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 990
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 20th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 4 years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine.

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15. Idaho
> Pct. of household with a dog: 42.6% (12th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Redwood Park, Boise (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 306
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 9th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years imprisonment and/or up to $9,000 fine.

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14. Arizona
> Pct. of household with a dog: 40.1% (17th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: McDonald Off-Leash Park, Tucson (1 of 6 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,262
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 11th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 2 years imprisonment and/or $150,000 fine.

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13. Illinois
> Pct. of household with a dog: 32.4% (12th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Messenger Marsh Dog Park, Homer Glen (1 of 19 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 2,081
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: the highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and $25,000 fine.

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12. Wyoming
> Pct. of household with a dog: 38.9% (20th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Bitter Creek Bark Park, Rock Springs (1 of 2 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 72
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 3rd lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to two years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine.

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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

11. Vermont
> Pct. of household with a dog: 37.7% (23rd highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Dog Mountain, Saint Johnsbury (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 192
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 25th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to two years imprisonment and/or $5,000 fine.

Source: stellalevi / Getty Images

10. California
> Pct. of household with a dog: 32.8% (13th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Crissy Field Park, San Francisco (1 of 63 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 7,756
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 3rd highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years county jail and/or $20,000 fine.

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9. Montana
> Pct. of household with a dog: 41.2% (15th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Burke Park aka Peets Hill, Bozeman (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 193
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 12th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to two years in prison and/or $2,500 fine.

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8. Arkansas
> Pct. of household with a dog: 47.9% (the highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Murphy Memorial Dog Park, Rogers (1 of 6 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 426
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 17th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 10 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

7. New Hampshire
> Pct. of household with a dog: 30.3% (8th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Franconia Notch State Park, Lincoln (1 of 3 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 234
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 13th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 7 years imprisonment and/or $4,000 fine.

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6. West Virginia
> Pct. of household with a dog: 45.8% (5th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Jackson Dog Park, Vienna (1 of 1 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 122
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 7th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years in jail and $5,000 fine.

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5. Hawaii
> Pct. of household with a dog: N/A
> Selected favorite dog park: Lilioukalani Gardens, Hilo (1 of 1 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 487
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 15th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $10,000 fine.

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4. New Mexico
> Pct. of household with a dog: 46.1% (2nd highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Tom Bolack Urban Forest Park, Albuquerque (1 of 5 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 423
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 6th lowest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 18 months imprisonment and $5,000 fine.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

3. Maine
> Pct. of household with a dog: 34.7% (20th lowest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Hinckley Park, South Portland (1 of 6 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 410
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 4th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and.or up to $10,000 fine.

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

2. Colorado
> Pct. of household with a dog: 42.5% (13th highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Durango Dog Park, Durango (1 of 16 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,497
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 10th highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 3 years in prison and $1,000 fine.

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Source: Thinkstock

1. Oregon
> Pct. of household with a dog: 38.8% (21st highest)
> Selected favorite dog park: Council Crest Park, Portland (1 of 14 statewide top-rated dog parks)
> Total pet-friendly eating establishments: 1,271
> Animal Legal Defense Fund ranking: 2nd highest
> Penalty for pet neglect: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or $125,000 fine.

Detailed Findings & Methodology

Nearly 90 million dogs live in households as pets in the United States. About 43.3 million U.S. households owned a dog in 2011.

Given those statistics, it’s understandable that our culture has become more accommodative toward dogs.

There is little tolerance for dog abuse in America. That was evident from the nationwide revulsion to the news that then-NFL quarterback Michael Vick and his associates staged dogfighting events for profit in Virginia in the early 2000s.

There are penalties for cruelty and pet neglect in every state. Texas has the most severe punishment for neglect of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $10,000. Seven other states — Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Virginia — impose a penalty of as many as 10 years in prison.

According to American Kennel Club’s U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, two-thirds of dog owners believe their animal is a member of the family, while only 32.6% consider their dog a pet. To reflect our attachment to our canine comrades, two states, Illinois and Alaska, now recognize the well-being of animals in custody cases and are not regarded as property.

In recent years, more restaurants and hotels have become accommodating to dogs. A survey in 2014 from The American Hotel & Lodging Association found that 60% of American hotels now accept pets, up from 50% in 2006. California, the nation’s most populous state, has more accommodating hotels and restaurants than any other state. State laws regarding bringing pets to restaurants vary, as do their enforcement. Some restaurants only permit service animals.

To identify the best states for dogs, 24/7 Wall St. indexed data from different sources. For our index we used the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s ranking of states from its “2017 U.S. Animal Protection Laws Rankings;” the percentage of households in each state with dogs from the American Kennel Club; the number of pet-friendly eating establishments for every 100,000 state residents from data collected on pet-owner travel organization BringFido; and the total number of hiking trails for every 100,000 state residents from online travel guide the Hiking Project.