Americans love their pets. Some 56.8% of U.S. households have at least one pet, and many have more than one. Unfortunately, not all pet owners give their animals the love and safety they deserve. Animal cruelty is all too common, with over 11,000 such incidents in 2020, according to FBI data.
Animal cruelty laws can vary widely across the country. Some states have strict laws requiring suspected abusers to be reported to the authorities and convicted abusers to forfeit their animals, while other states have hardly any laws protecting animals on the books at all.
To determine America’s worst states for pets, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report. Each state was evaluated based on the strength of its animal protection laws. Data on the percentage of households that own pets came from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Many states have laws that require veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty, while others have laws that permit veterinarians to report such instances and grant them civil immunity for reports made in good faith. However, some parts of the country have no requirements and offer no protection.
Similarly, some states have laws that require convicted animal abusers to surrender their animals and ban them from acquiring more. Other states leave any forfeitures and bans up to the court’s discretion, while a dozen have no laws addressing the issue whatsoever.
There does not appear to be any strong correlation between any one part of the country and especially strong animal abuse laws. In many cases, some of the best states for animals border some of the worst. Also, the share of pet owners in a state seems to have little bearing on the strength of anti-abuse legislation. These are the states with the most pets.
Click here to see America’s best and worst states for pets
Source: Dean_Fikar / Getty Images
50. New Mexico
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 60.1% (23rd highest)
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Source: mattalberts / Getty Images
49. Idaho
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 69.9% (5th highest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
48. Mississippi
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 65.5% (8th highest)
Source: Kruck20 / Getty Images
47. Alabama
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 59.8% (24th highest)
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Source: johnnya123 / Getty Images
46. Utah
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 58.5% (20th lowest)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
45. Kentucky
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 64.1% (11th highest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
44. South Carolina
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 62.0% (19th highest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
43. North Dakota
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 63.7% (12th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
42. North Carolina
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 58.6% (21st lowest)
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Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
41. Iowa
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 59.4% (24th lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
40. Georgia
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 51.1% (9th lowest)
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Source: aoldman / Getty Images
39. Wyoming
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 71.8% (the highest)
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Source: peeterv / Getty Images
38. Montana
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 61.9% (20th highest)
Source: sorincolac / Getty Images
37. Alaska
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 0.0% ()
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
36. Arkansas
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 69.0% (7th highest)
Source: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images
35. South Dakota
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 46.4% (2nd lowest)
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
34. Missouri
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 63.5% (13th highest)
Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images
33. New York
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 49.7% (7th lowest)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
32. Maryland
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 48.6% (4th lowest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
31. Oklahoma
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 65.0% (9th highest)
Source: Dreamframer / Getty Images
30. Arizona
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 58.0% (18th lowest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
29. Connecticut
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 49.9% (8th lowest)
Source: RudyBalasko / Getty Images
28. Minnesota
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 54.0% (12th lowest)
Source: Art Wager / Getty Images
27. Hawaii
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 0.0% ()
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
26. Wisconsin
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 59.0% (22nd lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
25. Tennessee
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 61.7% (21st highest)
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
24. Ohio
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 62.4% (17th highest)
Source: mdgmorris / Getty Images
23. Delaware
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 57.9% (17th lowest)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
22. Kansas
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 62.8% (15th highest)
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Source: photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images
21. Nevada
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 53.3% (11th lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
20. West Virginia
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 70.7% (2nd highest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
19. Vermont
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 70.0% (4th highest)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
18. Nebraska
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 70.3% (3rd highest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
17. Virginia
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 55.5% (14th lowest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
16. New Jersey
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: None
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 47.4% (3rd lowest)
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
15. Pennsylvania
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 60.6% (22nd highest)
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Source: pawel.gaul / Getty Images
14. Michigan
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 62.4% (17th highest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
13. New Hampshire
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 51.8% (10th lowest)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
12. Indiana
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 69.2% (6th highest)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
11. Texas
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 58.2% (19th lowest)
Source: aiisha5 / iStock via Getty Images
10. Washington
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 62.7% (16th highest)
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Source: choness / Getty Images
9. California
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 57.2% (16th lowest)
Source: Jaimie Tuchman / Getty Images
8. Louisiana
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: None
> Pct. of households that own pets: 54.4% (13th lowest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
7. Florida
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 56.0% (15th lowest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
6. Massachusetts
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 49.1% (6th lowest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
5. Rhode Island
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Permitted
> Pct. of households that own pets: 45.4% (the lowest)
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Source: Planet Unicorn / Getty Images
4. Colorado
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 64.7% (10th highest)
Source: 4nadia / Getty Images
3. Oregon
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 59.2% (23rd lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
2. Illinois
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Permitted
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 48.6% (4th lowest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
1. Maine
> Laws banning pet possession after animal cruelty conviction: Mandatory
> Laws requiring veterinarians to report potential cruelty: Required
> Pct. of households that own pets: 63.5% (13th highest)
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