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The Humane Society of the United States has released their annual Humane State Ranking. The list takes a look at which states are doing the most to protect their animals. The report and ranking of the 50 states (and Washington, D.C.) is based on the animal protection laws in place in each state and different animal protection issues, including animal cruelty codes, equine protection standards, wildlife issues, animals in research and farm animal policy. Read on to see who ranked the best — and the worst — and to see how your state ranks on the list.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Ranking: 51
Score: 14%
State Animal: Coyote
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IDAHO
Ranking: 50
Score: 19%
State Animal: Appaloosa Horse
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MISSISSIPPI
Ranking: 49
Score: 20%
State Animal: Bottlenose Dolphin
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NORTH DAKOTA
Ranking: 48
Score: 22%
State Animal: Nokota Horse
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SOUTH CAROLINA
Ranking : 47
Score: 24%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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KENTUCKY
Ranking: 46
Score: 25%
State Animal: Gray Squirrel
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ALABAMA
Ranking: 45
Score: 27%
State Animal: Black Bear
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WYOMING
Ranking: 44
Score: 28%
State Animal: American Buffalo
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ARKANSAS
Ranking: 43
Score: 29%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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UTAH
Ranking: 41
Score: 31%
State Animal: Rocky Mountain Elk
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MISSOURI
Ranking: 41
Score: 31%
State Animal: Missouri Mule
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ALASKA
Ranking: 38
Score: 32%
State Animal: Moose
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WEST VIRGINIA
Ranking: 38
Score: 32%
State Animal: Black Bear
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NORTH CAROLINA
Ranking: 38
Score: 32%
State Animal: Gray Squirrel
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MONTANA
Ranking: 35
Score: 35%
State Animal: Grizzly Bear
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HAWAII
Ranking: 35
Score: 35%
State Animal: Hawaiian Monk Seal
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INDIANA
Ranking: 35
Score: 35%
State Animal: Cardinal
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WISCONSIN
Ranking: 34
Score: 36%
State Animal: Dairy Cow
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KANSAS
Ranking: 33
Score: 38%
State Animal: American Buffalo
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GEORGIA
Ranking: 32
Score: 39%
State Animal: Right Whale
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MINNESOTA
Ranking: 30
Score: 40%
State Animal: Gopher
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OKLAHOMA
Ranking: 30
Score: 40%
National Animal: American Buffalo
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TEXAS
Ranking: 28
Score: 41%
State Animal: Texas Longhorn
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NEW MEXICO
Ranking: 28
Score: 41%
State Animal: American Black Bear
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OHIO
Ranking: 27
Score: 42%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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TENNESSEE
Ranking: 25
Score: 43%
State Animal: Raccoon
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NEBRASKA
Ranking: 25
Score: 43%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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DELAWARE
Ranking: 23
Score: 45%
State Animal: Grey Fox
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IOWA
Ranking: 23
Score: 45%
State Animal: Eastern Goldfinch Bird
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NEVADA
Ranking: 22
Score: 47%
State Animal: Desert Bighorn Sheep
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MICHIGAN
Ranking: 12
Score: 54%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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LOUISIANA
Ranking: 18
Score: 49%
State Animal: Black Bear
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DISTRICT OF COLOMBIA
Ranking: 18
Score: 49%
State Animal: Wood Thrush
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RHODE ISLAND
Ranking: 18
Score: 49%
State Animal: Rhode Island Red Chicken
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PENNSYLVANIA
Ranking: 17
Score: 51%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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MARYLAND
Ranking: 16
Score: 53%
State Bird: Baltimore Oriole
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FLORIDA
Ranking: 12
Score: 54%
State Animal: Florida Panther
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CONNECTICUT
Ranking: 12
Score: 54%
State Animal: Sperm Whale
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
Ranking: 2
Score: 64%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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VERMONT
Ranking: 12
Score: 54%
State Animal: Morgan Horse
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NEW YORK
Ranking:7
Score: 58%
State Animal: Beaver
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VIRGINIA
Ranking: 7
Score: 58%
Official Animal: American Foxhound
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COLORADO
Ranking: 7
Score: 58%
State Animal: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
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WASHINGTON
Ranking: 7
Score: 58%
State Animal: Olympic Marmot
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ARIZONA
Ranking: 7
Score: 58%
State Animal: Ringtail Cat
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MAINE
Ranking: 5
Score: 60%
State Animal: Moose
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NEW JERSEY
Ranking: 5
Score: 60%
State Animal: Horse
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OREGON
Ranking: 4
Score: 62%
State Animal: American Beaver
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ILLINOIS
Ranking: 2
Score: 64%
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
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MASSACHUSETTS
Ranking: 2
Score: 64%
State Animal: Right Whale
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Next: See the 100 Best Cities for Dogs
CALIFORNIA
Ranking: 1
Score: 74%
State Animal: California Grizzly Bear
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66 Comments
As human beings we are the stewards of this planet. Unfortunately ignorance of our assigned responsibilities is too prevalent. If you want a pet RESCUE one. You will have taught your children compassion and devotion. If you see the hunting of any wild species loudly condemn it, choose at least one specie in need of protection and donate to it. A dollar, five dollars it's not going to make much difference in your life. Put the cookies back on the shelf and donate those four bucks to something worthy. If we all did that many creatures would have the protection they sorely need. This is part of my creed please make it part of yours. Children learn what they live. My son willingly rescued a dog from the shelter that had a broken leg that had set and with his money and the donations from others who cared he was able to raise enough money to do the necessary surgery. Yes, the dog remains lame but suffers no further pain. He is much loved. He has come home.
January 29 2013 at 4:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI am from MA now living in TN. I have never seen such abuse of animals ever! I see puppies living with their mothers on the side of the road only to see them in a few months dead by cars. I pass a house with a kennel at the far end of the yard from the house with a beautiful shepherd. I went by one day and noticed they were putting up a fence and I was so excited that the dog would have room to run, but no he is still in that small kennel. I cry and cry but the mentality here is that a dog is just that, a dog. They just think differently here and there is only so much I can do.
January 29 2013 at 4:07 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyDid anyone see the dog stay by its owner in the freezing lake, which saved the mans life? Or has anyone seen the dog that will not leave the church where his owner/mistress was laid to rest? And you can tell the body language of the dog, that its depressed, sad and lost without her.
January 29 2013 at 1:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDoesn't that tell anyone that animals are much like us humans? Or the countless animals that bring love and happiness to families and now large companies? Life is meant to be lived with love in your heart regardless if it's an a person or animal. Animal abuse is when a person or persons knowingly do harm to an animal for fun, capital gain, or to take out their own mental frustrations on innocent creatures. Animals have been watching humans since human first walked the earth and have feelings like love too!
I tried to respond to Jim but it posted many times !! Sorry
January 29 2013 at 12:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNow let me see Mr.Goodie...How many children do you have that are using the planet's resources and eating meat (( Which requires killing animals )) Did you do your part to stem the tide ?? Well?? Everybody wants to complain but nobody wants to cut down on the population It cannot keep doubling forever or did you think it is all OK ?? All those lovely kids want pets too ( OH! We forgot that ?? )) Get em a Bunny for Easter ( smile )
January 29 2013 at 12:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI've seen a lot of excellent posts and must concur with most of them. I'm an animal lover, and really hate to see people abusing any cat dog or other type of domesticated animal.
January 29 2013 at 12:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNature has provided a way for wild animals to survive although to us it seems somewhat cruel the way some of them have to die. But, I guess, just like in over populations problems of people, there has to be a limitation, and so nature has not given all animals a way to protect themselves such as humans have done.
Thank you all for good posts.
Jim
I treat all my pets very good. The fact is though animals in the natural world always die a cruel terrible death usually by slowly being eaten alive by other wild animals humans are the least cruel of all animals when we kill for food it is much faster as a rule.If I was a deer I would much prefer a hunter's bullet to having my hind quarters torn away and eaten while I was still alive by a pack of hungry wolves or coyotes. Lets face it animals in the wild natural world have no good way to die..
January 29 2013 at 11:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI wish my state was ranked higher than #12, but at least FL isn't the worst. I can't stand people that abuse animals. What kind of a sick mind can carry out such acts? Does it make them feel like they are more powerful, since they can harm an animal? That's just sick. Humans are responsible for taking care of animals. Just as we should take care of those less strong than we are personally, the same applies for the animals. If you don't have the kindness in your heart to take care of your fellow man and take care of the animals, you are in desperate need to mental health treatment!
January 29 2013 at 10:58 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyYou sound like a great person and anyone around you animal or human is lucky. God bless!
January 29 2013 at 1:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyBlue states where convicted murders get more protection than third trimester children in the womb.
January 29 2013 at 10:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySeems like red and blue states to me.
January 29 2013 at 10:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply