Despite a significant comeback in fauna protection laws across all 50 U.South. states in recent years, many argue more needs washed to combat and discover animal abuse. All states now include felony provisions in their animal cruelty laws, but they each take varying levels of punishment for various protection laws.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) released its annual U.S. Fauna Protection Laws Rankings in January, comparison each land's animal protection laws.

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A rescued pit bull looks out from a cage in the Liberty Humane Society shelter in Jersey City, New Jersey, on July 24, 2007. Mario Tama/Getty Images

For the 11th year in a row, Kentucky was ranked the worst of all the states for animal protection laws, followed by Iowa (49), Wyoming (48), Utah (47) and North Dakota (46).

According to the report, Kentucky needs to implement a number of laws that other states take implemented to improve its ranking, including increasing penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves multiple animals, enforcing restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals if a person has been convicted of corruption and enforcing felony provisions in cases of fail or abandonment.

Kentucky is also the only state that prohibits veterinarians from reporting any suspected animal abuse to authorities.

According to the report, Pennsylvania was the virtually improved state in 2017, jumping 20 places to 24. The ALDF said this was in part due to the land granting ceremonious immunity to veterinarians who report suspected creature corruption.

"Perpetrators of the about unthinkable violence against animals deserve more than a slap on the wrist, and at present prosecutors in Pennsylvania have more important tools they need to tackle these horrific cases," said Lora Dunn, manager and senior staff attorney for the ALDF's Criminal Justice Plan.

"Sadly," Dunn added, "many cruelty cases get undetected, hidden from public view, and veterinarians might exist the just witnesses to these animals' suffering. That'due south why it'south so of import to empower veterinarians who suspect animal cruelty to take action without fear of legal retribution past the abuser."

For the 10th year in row, Illinois was ranked in first place past the ALDF—followed by Oregon (2), California (3), Maine (4) and Rhode Isle (5). The report ranked Illinois as the best state for animate being protection considering of a number of listed strengths, including imposing felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual set on, equally well as increased penalties for repeat animal abusers and mandatory reporting of suspected animal cruelty past select non-animal-related agencies and veterinarians.

More than half of all states accept "significantly improved" their animal protection laws in the by 5 years, co-ordinate to the ALDF.

"Unfortunately, laws protecting animals tin can vary widely from land to state," says ALDF Executive Director Stephen Wells. "Our annual U.South. Animal Protection Laws Rankings provides a tool for fauna advocates, shelters and even legislators to gauge the relative effectiveness of their state's fauna protection laws and provides guidance for making positive changes."

Best States for Animal Protection

1. Illinois
2. Oregon
3. California
four. Maine
5. Rhode Island
vi. Michigan
vii. West Virginia
eight. Nevada
9. New Bailiwick of jersey
10. Colorado

Worst States for Beast Protection

1. Kentucky
ii. Iowa
3. Wyoming
4. Utah
v. North Dakota
vi. New Mexico
7. Alaska
viii. Maryland
9. Idaho
10. South Dakota