This has been a good summer for animal laws. New York just created the country’s first registry for animal abusers, a significant step to protect animals from abuse. By checking the registry, shelters and other agencies who are adopting out animals can determine if a prospective owner has been convicted of animal abuse in the past, ensuring that animals are more likely to go to happy and safe homes.

Governor Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania just signed H.B. 82 into law, which requires accused animal abusers to pay for the daily upkeep of their seized animals. Animal shelters often struggle to cover the medical expenses of seized animals, and now Pennsylvania is requiring the defendants to pay up to $15 a day for the upkeep, including shelter, food and other basic needs. If animals require extraordinary care, the accused may be required to pay more in order to support treatment.

New York and Pennsylvania are just two examples of states that are attempting to ensure that their animal residents are protected under the law. Each year, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) ranks states according to their animal cruelty laws. Check out the list below to see how your state ranks.

The Best

California: Prohibits intensive confinement of animals on factory farms.

New Jersey: Strong laws against animal fighting and keeping dangerous exotic animals as pets.

Oregon: Same as New Jersey, plus strong puppy mill laws and laws against extreme confinement of animals on factory farms.

Illinois: Strong laws against animal cruelty and fighting and against private possession of dangerous exotic animals.

Massachusetts: Strong laws against animal fighting and ban on greyhound racing.

The Worst

Mississippi: There are no felony penalties for cockfighting, just slap-on-the-wrist punishments.

North Dakota: One of only two states with no felony-level penalties for egregious acts of cruelty; generally weak anti-cruelty laws.

South Carolina: No felony penalties for cockfighting.

Idaho: Some of the weakest anti-cruelty laws in the country.

South Dakota: One of only two states with no felony-level penalties for egregious acts of cruelty, and some of the weakest laws against cockfighting in the country.

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the good news is that more than half of all states experienced a significant improvement in their animal protection laws in the last five years. These improvements included increasing penalties for abuse offenders, requiring veterinarians to report animal cruelty cases, and including animals in domestic violence protective orders.

Now for the bad news. The ALDF reports some pretty shocking laws in certain states. For example, in Kentucky, veterinarians are prohibited from reporting suspected cruelty or animal fighting. In some other states, courts do not have the power to restrict future animal ownership after a cruelty conviction. Of those states, only Iowa allows judges to require mental health evaluations or counseling for convicts, despite the fact that animal abuse is one of the best predictors that a person will commit violence against humans. In North Dakota and Kentucky, courts cannot order cruelty convicts to give up the animals they harmed, abandoning the creatures to suffer further at the hands of their abusers.

Thankfully as a nation we are moving in the right direction. In 2012, there were many advances in animal protection laws. California banned “hounding” of wildlife, New Jersey banned horse slaughter, Ohio regulated exotic pet ownership, and Tennessee now considers cruelty to livestock a felony. Let’s hope this trend continues.

Adoptable Pet of the Week

Sasha

Sasha is a five year old spayed black female Labrador mix. She weighs 72 lbs. Sasha is a great people dog. She is very friendly and loves to be around people and meet new friends. She knows basic commands like ‘sit’ and ‘down’. While she does get along with some dogs, Sasha could use some socialization with dogs in general. With a little bit of socialization she can become a typical happy-go-lucky lab! She would make a wonderful addition to a family with children, or would make an exceptional companion dog. Come meet Sasha at DAWG!

To inquire about adopting a dog, visit DAWG in Santa Barbara. DAWG (Dog Adoption and Welfare Group) is a no-kill not for profit dog rescue/adoption organization located at 5480 Overpass Road in Goleta. For more information, call 805-681-0561. You can view more adoptable dogs at www.sbdawg.org. All of the dogs have been spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, are current on their shots, and have flea/tick/mosquito protection. We ask for a minimum adoption donation of $250 for young dogs (under three years), $150 for adult dogs, and $125 for seniors (dogs 8 years old and over).

For more information on our available dogs, call (805) 681-0561, email adopt@sbdawg.org, or come by during open adoption hours, Thursday-Monday, 12pm-5pm.

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