Which are the worst states to be an animal?
Cruelty against animals is unforgivable, and it is sometimes worse than the violence we humans inflict upon each other since animals rarely have the chance and the power to fight against those that are harming them.
Whether you’re “disciplining” your puppy, kicking your horse for not going where you were trying to lead it or leaving your cat out in the snow, it all fits under the animal cruelty umbrella.
Unlike other countries, the United States has plenty of legislation in place trying to protect those that cannot speak up the names of their abusers. Unfortunately, things are not perfect here either, and the law varies from state to state.
The issue that usually arises when legislation is diverse among areas of a single country is that the inevitable loopholes appear, or entire segments remain untouched, which is the case with the United States of America. In short, some states offer better protection to animals living in their territories than others.
Overall, the United States received a D grade from the World Animal Protection Index. The country admits animal sentience and has federal laws recognizing some aspects of this issue, but its application is only partial. On the other hand, the United States was the first country to introduce laws that seek the protection of animals from cruelty and negligence, with the law covering animals used in farming, those in captivity, pets, lab animals and wild animals as well. You can read more about the 11 worst countries for animal cruelty if you want to find out how things stand at a global level.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund has published its 2015 annual report which takes into consideration the local laws regarding the protection of animals against cruelty, which ranks them from best to worse, with Illinois being the best in class. Unfortunately, there are differences between states, so these are the 11 worst states to be an animal.
11. Wisconsin
The state offers some protections, including against the mistreatment of animals and abandoning them. The laws indicate that animals need to be transported properly, not to be exposed to poisonous substances, to be offered food and drink, as well as shelter, with the definition covering warm-blooded creatures, but also reptiles and amphibians. Torture and animal cruelty aren’t specified directly in the laws, and neither are the owner’s duties. There’s also no mention about the confinement of animals in cars, which is a continual problem in the United States these days.
10. South Dakota
South Dakota’s laws protect animals against neglect, abandonment or mistreatment, as well as cruelty, which is particularly specified. They’re also looking out for animals that are injured or ill and who are kept past recovery without air. Poisoning animals is also prohibited, along with killing, injuring or mistreating them, with the law covering mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Torture is not covered by the legislation, however. The maximum punishment for mistreating animals is 2 years in prison and/or $4,000 in fines. By comparison, in Illinois, which is the best state to be an animal in, the maximum punishments are 5 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
9. Maryland
In the state of Maryland, the law prohibits general cruelty to animals, as well as aggravated cruelty to animals, along with abandoning domestic animals and poisoning dogs, with no mention of other types of animals in these specific laws. On the other hand, the word “animal” is defined as a “living creature except a human being.”
The mildest of offences are punished with 90 days in prison and/or $1,000 in fines, while felonies are punished with 3 years in prison and/or $5,000 fines. Things could, of course, be worse, and we’re going to see that in the entries that follow, but it’s a sad thing to see that the worst offenses bring such light punishments.
8. Idaho
This state offers plenty of protection for wilderness, and it’s full of outdoor recreational areas, but when it comes to protecting animals, things aren’t all that great. The country’s laws interpret poisoning animals as a misdemeanor or felony and sees the following crimes as simple misdemeanors – cruelty to animals, carrying animals in a cruel manner, impounding without food or water, permitting animals to go without care, or beating and harassing animals.
The harshest punishments are offered for poisoning animals, but only when it is considered a felony and not a simple misdemeanor – 3 years in prison and/or $5,000 in fines. For the other types of misdemeanors, mentioned above, the punishment is based on whether or not you’re on your first offense. For the first time, you only get 6 months in jail and/or $5,000 in fine, while the third and subsequent time you can get up to 1 year in jail and/or $9,000 in fines.
7. Alaska
The beautiful and cold state of Alaska offers animals some protection against cruelty, neglect, death or injury with a decompression chamber, poisoning and cruelty with the intention to threaten, intimidate or terrorize another person. The state’s definition of “animal” covers all vertebrate living creatures that are not humans, but it does not include fish.
Cruelty against animals, killing or injuring them with a decompression chamber and poisoning are considered class C felonies, while the rest barely register as misdemeanors.
The toughest punishments are reserved for the felonies and include up to 5 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, while the misdemeanors are punished with 1 year in jail and $10,000 fines.
6. New Mexico
New Mexico may be a hot state, but they’re not that warm towards animals. In fact, the only prohibitions are towards cruelty to animals, extreme cruelty to animals and injuries to livestock, while the state’s definition of “animal” does not include insects or reptiles. Cruelty towards animals is seen as a misdemeanor until the fourth or subsequent offense when it becomes a felony. Actions of extreme cruelty, as well as injuries affected to livestock, are seen as felonies from the start.
The punishment for such actions includes up to 18 months in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. It is disappointing that the maximum penalties are so weak in New Mexico, but unless new laws are passed this is the current situation.
5. North Dakota
It seems like North Dakota is also on the list of states where local laws against animal cruelty aren’t exactly up to par. The state features laws regarding animal neglect, abuse, cruelty, abandonment and caged animals. Animal abuse from the third offense forth is seen as a class C felony and so is any case of animal cruelty.
The harshest penalties for the above felonies are up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 fines, which is not that bad, but it leaves plenty of room for improvement. After all, there are plenty of actions towards animals that are ignored or not taken into consideration at all, which is why North Dakota is definitely one of the worst states to be an animal.
4. Utah
Utah has plenty to be proud of, but not its anti-animal cruelty legislation isn’t among them. The state’s laws mention cruelty to animals whether intentional or not, aggravated cruelty to animals (intentional or not), as well as torture of companion animals. There are no mentions of how pets need to be housed, how farm animals need to be treated or how wild animals need to be treated. However, the state’s definition of “animal” refers to nonhuman vertebrate creatures, although the list does not include animals kept for agricultural, zoological, hunting, circus, rodeo or wildlife purposes, which is truly saddening.
The only type of offense that is considered a felony is torturing pets, and it is punished with up to 5 years in prison and/or $5,000 in fine.
3. Wyoming
In Wyoming animals are protected against cruel treatment, neglect or abandonment, as well as animal cruelty towards pets. Animals are also protected against cruel beatings, torture, tormenting, injuries and mutilations, but only if the result is death or required euthanasia, which basically means that if the animal is left alive and to recover those who performed the acts are perfectly fine.
Even in this latter case, the punishment according to the law only features 2 years in prison and/or a fine of $5,000 which is entirely too little of a penalty for such heinous crimes.
We’re not even going to mention all the holes in Wyoming’s laws since they’re more like craters than potholes.
2. Iowa
Iowa’s legislation features plenty of prohibitions, including against abuse, neglect, intentional neglect resulting in injury or death, torture, as well as the abandonment of cats and dogs, abuse of livestock owned by another person and livestock neglect. There’s no mention of what happens when you abuse your own livestock, but that’s just in line with the state’s definition of “animals” – nonhuman vertebrates without livestock, game, fur-bearing animals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, unless they’re owned, confined or controlled by a person.
The only situation where these actions are considered felonies are in case of animal torture and only if it’s a subsequent offense and not the first, in which case it’s only considered to be aggravated misdemeanor.
The harshest punishment one can see for abusing animals is a 5 year prison sentence and a $7,500 fine.
1. Kentucky
The home of one particular brand of fast food featuring chickens doesn’t really care about animals all that much. The state’s legislature prohibits cruelty to animals, as well as the torture of dogs and cats, both of which are barely considered misdemeanors. They only situation in which they become felonies it’s when the first offense ends in serious physical injury or death for the animal or if it’s a subsequent offense.
The most one can get for mistreating animals is 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, which puts it at the top of the list of the 11 worst states to be an animal.
