Minnesota Ranks 23rd in Animal Protection Laws
A report released by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) ranks Minnesota 23rd in the nation for its animal protection laws. The “Humane State Ranking” grades states on 65 different topics within ten different issues regarding animal protection in the state. The issues investigated include animal fighting, puppy mills, wildlife abuse, factory farming, and companion animal laws, among others.
Minnesota law performed best in the area of animal fighting, having statutes in place for nine of the twelve areas examined by HSUS. This includes issuing felony penalties for dogfighting and cockfighting violations. Also performing well were regulations for animal cruelty and exotic pets.
The areas where protections are most lacking include those involving animals in research, companion animals, and puppy mills.
Among the states with the best animal protection laws are California, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Maine.
