• AOL
  • MAIL
    • Today's Funniest Photos 5-20-13
    • Today's Funniest Photos 5-16-13
    • The Best Episode From Each Season of 'The Simpsons'
    • Today's Funniest Photos 5-15-13
    • The Greatest Cartoons of Your Childhood
    • Honeybees Trained in Croatia to Find Land Mines
    • Today's 10 Must-See Photos: 5-20-2013
    • Watch: Kansas Meteorologist Seeks Shelter From Tornado
    • Photos: Surfers Ride Massive Waves at Teahupoo in Tahiti
    • 13 Animal Photos from Nat Geo's 2013 Traveler Photo Contest
Sign In / Register
  • Cute & Funny
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • All Pets
  • Home
  • Animals
  • News
  • Video
  • Who's Cutest
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • All Pets
  • View Gallery

    Daily Adorbs for May 20, 2013

  • View Gallery

    Rev the Dog Howls Along to Adele

  • View Gallery

    Anteater Gives Birth Despite No Apparent Male Partner

  • View Gallery

    Good Morning Gifs: May 20th, 2013

  • Photos
  • Breeds
  • Health
  • Adoption
  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle
  • Training
  • Grooming
  • View Gallery

    1 Human Year Does Not Equal 7 Doggy Years

  • View Gallery

    8 Ways to Protect Yourself If Your Dog Bites

  • View Gallery

    Pet Store Puppies More Prone to Behavioral Problems

  • View Gallery

    Rev the Dog Howls Along to Adele

  • Photos
  • Breeds
  • Health
  • Adoption
  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle
  • Behavior
  • Grooming
  • View Gallery

    Good Morning Gifs: May 20th, 2013

  • View Gallery

    12 Adorable Kitties Hugging It Out

  • View Gallery

    Cat vs. Banana Peel

  • View Gallery

    Good Morning Gifs: May 17th, 2013

  • Photos
  • Pets A-Z
  • Health
  • Adoption
  • Causes
  • Wild Animals
  • Lifestyle
  • View Gallery

    South American "Crazy Ants" Are a Threat in Southern U.S.

  • View Gallery

    Daily Adorbs for May 20, 2013

  • View Gallery

    Anteater Gives Birth Despite No Apparent Male Partner

  • View Gallery

    Cop Pauses High-Speed Chase to Let Ducklings Cross

  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Birds
  • Celebs
  • Talented
  • Weird
  • View Gallery

    South American "Crazy Ants" Are a Threat in Southern U.S.

  • View Gallery

    Daily Adorbs for May 20, 2013

  • View Gallery

    1 Human Year Does Not Equal 7 Doggy Years

  • View Gallery

    8 Ways to Protect Yourself If Your Dog Bites

  • View All
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • All Pets
  • Editor's Favorites
  • View Video

    South American "Crazy Ants" Are a Threat in Southern U.S.

  • View Video

    Rev the Dog Howls Along to Adele

  • View Video

    Cat vs. Banana Peel

  • View Video

    Cop Pauses High-Speed Chase to Let Ducklings Cross

Get in the game
This Week's Top Leaders.
  • 1. Teddy Quakertown, PA
  • 2. Nora Sunshine Chicago, IL
  • 3. ROMEO Ft. Worth, TX
  • 4. Joe Shoals, IN
  • 5. ChewChew New York, NY
  • Communication Between Snakes

  • Do Lizards See Colors?

  • Information on the Cobalt Blue Cichlid

  • Equine Poultice Techniques

  • Differences Between Groundhogs & Gophers

Dogs

  • Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow @paw_nation
  • Follow @ChopperInCharge
  • Follow @CairoInControl
  • Photos
  • Breeds
  • Health
  • Adoption
  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle
  • Training
  • Grooming

2012 Humane State Rankings

the daily dish More on PawNation: Birds, Cats, Causes, Dogs, Exotic, Farm Animals, Horses, Humane Society, Legal, Sad, Safety, Small and Furry, Wild Animals

Jan 28, 2013

  • Alamy/Yathin S Krishnappa/Wikimedia
    1 of 51

    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

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Darrell Dodds/Wikimedia
    2 of 51

    IDAHO

    Ranking: 50

    Score: 19%

    State Animal: Appaloosa Horse

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/NASA
    3 of 51

    MISSISSIPPI

    Ranking: 49

    Score: 20%

    State Animal: Bottlenose Dolphin 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikimedia
    4 of 51

    NORTH DAKOTA

    Ranking: 48

    Score: 22%

    State Animal: Nokota Horse

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/lwctoys/Wikimedia
    5 of 51

    SOUTH CAROLINA

    Ranking : 47

    Score: 24%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/PierreSelim/Wikimedia
    6 of 51

    KENTUCKY

    Ranking: 46

    Score: 25%

    State Animal: Gray Squirrel 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/USFWS
    7 of 51

    ALABAMA

    Ranking: 45

    Score: 27%

    State Animal: Black Bear 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 8 of 51

    WYOMING

    Ranking: 44

    Score: 28%

    State Animal: American Buffalo 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikipedia
    9 of 51

    ARKANSAS

    Ranking: 43

    Score: 29%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikimedia
    10 of 51

    UTAH

    Ranking: 41

    Score: 31%

    State Animal: Rocky Mountain Elk 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/MuleGirl/Wikimedia
    11 of 51

    MISSOURI

    Ranking: 41

    Score: 31%

    State Animal: Missouri Mule 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikipedia
    12 of 51

    ALASKA

    Ranking: 38

    Score: 32%

    State Animal: Moose

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Greg Hume/Wikimedia
    13 of 51

    WEST  VIRGINIA

    Ranking: 38

    Score: 32%

    State Animal: Black Bear 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikipedia
    14 of 51

    NORTH CAROLINA

    Ranking: 38

    Score: 32%

    State Animal: Gray Squirrel 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 15 of 51

    MONTANA

    Ranking: 35

    Score: 35%

    State Animal: Grizzly Bear 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Kent Backman/Wikimedia
    16 of 51

    HAWAII

    Ranking: 35

    Score: 35%

    State Animal: Hawaiian Monk Seal 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikipedia
    17 of 51

    INDIANA

    Ranking: 35

    Score: 35%

    State Animal: Cardinal 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 18 of 51

    WISCONSIN

    Ranking: 34

    Score: 36%

    State Animal: Dairy Cow 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 19 of 51

    KANSAS

    Ranking: 33

    Score: 38%

    State Animal: American Buffalo 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Wikimedia/Alamy
    20 of 51

    GEORGIA

    Ranking: 32

    Score: 39%

    State Animal: Right Whale 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 21 of 51

    MINNESOTA

    Ranking: 30

    Score: 40%

    State Animal: Gopher

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 22 of 51

    OKLAHOMA

    Ranking: 30

    Score: 40%

    National Animal: American Buffalo 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 23 of 51

    TEXAS

    Ranking: 28

    Score: 41%

    State Animal: Texas Longhorn 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 24 of 51

    NEW MEXICO

    Ranking: 28

    Score: 41%

    State Animal: American Black Bear 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikipedia
    25 of 51

    OHIO

    Ranking: 27

    Score: 42%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Bastique/Wikimedia
    26 of 51

    TENNESSEE

    Ranking: 25

    Score: 43%

    State Animal: Raccoon

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Thinkstock
    27 of 51

    NEBRASKA

    Ranking: 25

    Score: 43%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Dcrjsr/Wikimedia
    28 of 51

    DELAWARE

    Ranking: 23

    Score: 45%

    State Animal: Grey Fox

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Ken Thomas/Wikimedia
    29 of 51

    IOWA

    Ranking: 23

    Score: 45%

    State Animal: Eastern Goldfinch Bird

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • 30 of 51

    NEVADA

    Ranking: 22

    Score: 47%

    State Animal: Desert Bighorn Sheep

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Coolstock/flickr
    31 of 51

    MICHIGAN

    Ranking: 12

    Score: 54%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Alan Vernon/Wikimedia
    32 of 51

    LOUISIANA

    Ranking: 18

    Score: 49%

    State Animal: Black Bear

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/snowmanradio/flickr
    33 of 51

    DISTRICT OF COLOMBIA

    Ranking: 18

    Score: 49%

    State Animal: Wood Thrush 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Magnus Manske/Wikimedia.
    34 of 51

    RHODE ISLAND

    Ranking: 18

    Score: 49%

    State Animal: Rhode Island Red Chicken

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Thinkstock
    35 of 51

    PENNSYLVANIA

    Ranking: 17

    Score: 51%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Mdf/Wikimedia
    36 of 51

    MARYLAND

    Ranking: 16

    Score: 53%

    State Bird: Baltimore Oriole

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/NPS
    37 of 51

    FLORIDA

    Ranking: 12

    Score: 54%

    State Animal: Florida Panther 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Gabriel Barathieu/flickr
    38 of 51

    CONNECTICUT

    Ranking: 12

    Score: 54%

    State Animal: Sperm Whale

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/ARS
    39 of 51

    NEW HAMPSHIRE

    Ranking: 2

    Score: 64%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer 

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Anthony Domire Jr./Wikimedia
    40 of 51

    VERMONT

    Ranking: 12

    Score: 54%

    State Animal: Morgan Horse

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/LASZLO ILYES/flickr
    41 of 51

    NEW YORK

    Ranking:7

    Score: 58%

    State Animal: Beaver

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Wikimedia
    42 of 51

    VIRGINIA

    Ranking: 7

    Score: 58%

    Official Animal: American Foxhound

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Greg Bulla/Wikimedia
    43 of 51

    COLORADO

    Ranking: 7

    Score: 58%

    State Animal: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/NPS
    44 of 51

    WASHINGTON

    Ranking: 7

    Score: 58%

    State Animal: Olympic Marmot

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Robertbody/Wikimedia
    45 of 51

    ARIZONA

    Ranking: 7

    Score: 58%

    State Animal: Ringtail Cat

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Walter Ezell/Wikimedia
    46 of 51

    MAINE

    Ranking: 5

    Score: 60%

    State Animal: Moose

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy
    47 of 51

    NEW JERSEY

    Ranking: 5

    Score: 60%

    State Animal: Horse

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Staplegunther/Wikimedia/Steve/flickr
    48 of 51

    OREGON

    Ranking: 4

    Score: 62%

    State Animal: American Beaver

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Jerry Segraves/Wikimedia
    49 of 51

    ILLINOIS

    Ranking: 2

    Score: 64%

    State Animal: White-tailed Deer

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/US Government
    50 of 51

    MASSACHUSETTS

    Ranking: 2

    Score: 64%

    State Animal: Right Whale

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend
  • Alamy/Scott_Calleja/flickr
    51 of 51
    Next: See the 100 Best Cities for Dogs

    CALIFORNIA

    Ranking: 1

    Score: 74%

    State Animal: California Grizzly Bear

    • More
      • Share on Tumblr
      • Pin It
      • Email to a friend

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum
43

66 Comments

Filter by:
dazey1st

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 Reply
evconrealty

I 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 Reply
itseasy1970

Did 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.
Doesn'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!

January 29 2013 at 1:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Hi Baby

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 Reply
Hi Baby

Now 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 Reply
Jim

I'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.

Nature 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

January 29 2013 at 12:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
bryanmerrittper2

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 Reply
RhonMin

I 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 Reply
1 reply to RhonMin's comment
itseasy1970

You 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 Reply
perth70

Blue 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 Reply
perth70

Seems like red and blue states to me.

January 29 2013 at 10:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Load more comments

Who is Cutest?

Jack *** Chuckie
Vote Now

Get your daily dose of PawNation by signing up for the Newsletter!

Thanks. You're pawesome.
More Cuteness

More on PawNation

  • Ask A Vet Get answers.
  • Pets Taking Bubble Baths LOL
  • Dogs Are Better Than Boyfriends Why?
  • Is Your Dog Sick? Check symptoms.
  • !2 Craziest Mutant Animals Wow!
  • Play The "Who's Cutest" Game Vote now!

From:

  • Photos: Top 10 Dogs for Kids
  • Chocolate Toxicity Meter for Dogs
  • Why Do Dogs Eat Grass
  • Are You Overfeeding Your Cat?

From:

  • Does Your Pet Have Cancer? 6 Signs to Look For
  • The Biggest Pet Threat as the Weather Warms Up
  • Travel Tips For You and Your Pet
  • Flea-Proof Your Pets
  • Get Fit for Summer With Your Pet

From:

  • 11 Cat Breeds With Funny Names
  • 8 Animal Movies We Love
  • Dog Cares for Trapped Kitten
  • Service Dog Becomes Celebrity
  • 20 Hottest Dog Breeds in America

From:

  • Forever Alone Cat
  • Shelter Purebreds, Mixed Breeds, And (Ahem) Faux Paws
  • The Top 10 Most Popular Mixed Breed Dogs
  • A Very Happy Smiley Cat
  • Pawnation
  • Cute & Funny
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • All Pets
  • Animals
  • News
  • Video
  • Who's Cutest

Most Pawpular:

  • Breaking Bad News With Baby Animals
  • German Fisherman Catches Record-Breaking 103-Pound Codfish
  • Cat Returns From the 'Dead' in Case of Mistaken Identity
  • Adorable Kitten Freaked Out by Lizard
  • 40 Bald Eagles Descend on a Pickup While Its Owner Is Shopping

Most Recent:

  • Daily Adorbs for May 20, 2013
  • 1 Human Year Does Not Equal 7 Doggy Years
  • Pet Store Puppies More Prone to Behavioral Problems
  • Anteater Gives Birth Despite No Apparent Male Partner
  • Dogs and Pickup Trucks

Follow PawNation

Never miss a single purr or woof
Sign up here for newsletter

Thanks. You're pawesome.
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy
  • Send Feedback
  • About our Ads
  • Copyright Notices
  • Community Guidelines
  • Media/PR Inquiries
  • © 2013 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
AOL Family
BermanBraun