California is No. 1 in laws protecting animals, Humane Society reports

California has the strongest animal-protection laws in the country, with detailed regulations shielding animals from harm whether in homes, on farms, at racetracks or in the wild, the Humane Society of the United States reported Monday.

In a comprehensive analysis of the laws in each of the 50 states, the animal-welfare advocates ranked the Golden State No. 1 for the legal protections it has enacted across the animal kingdom. New Jersey, Colorado, Maine and Massachusetts also scored high in protecting pets and livestock. Idaho and South Dakota earned the lowest scores, in part for their failure to make egregious animal abuse a felony or to outlaw cockfighting.

California scored 45 on a 65-point checklist for laws governing conditions on farms, in shelters and in laboratories and for those dealing with breeders and commercial ventures. It is one of the few states that outlaws the use of animals in product testing when an alternative exists and gives students the right to choose an alternative to animal dissection in schools.

The state prohibits all forms of animal fighting and the keeping of primates, venomous snakes, bears, wolves and big cats as pets. It also outlaws force-feeding of geese for the production of foie gras, battery cages for egg-laying hens and tail-docking of dairy cows.

Bear hunting is allowed in the state, but trade in bear parts is prohibited. In equine protection, California is one of only four states to prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

"The trends are positive, but there are major gaps in the law throughout the nation," said Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society president. "Anemic animal protection laws in many states will allow cruelty and abuse to continue, and that must change."

The report said the Humane Society helped pass 121 new laws last year to strengthen animal protection.

-- Carol J. Williams

Learn more about the most popular breeds and dog names in Los Angeles County on The Times' interactive database: L.A.'s Top Dogs

Photo: Times file

Comments

[animalluvr]

I am proud of my state for this. We are their voice.

[Ann]

How about rights to protect the unborn babies!

[My opinon means nothing]

I wonder where California ranks where it concerns taking care of homeless and low-income people? Are they not more important than stray dogs and cats? With all the people loosing their jobs and homes, it's pretty disgusting that pets get more attention than humans.

[dfb]

Ann, the unborn are protected. Perhaps not to the extent you wish them to be protected; however they are protected. Moreover, it should be noted that rights do not actually attach until someone is alive (i.e. born). Courts and legislatures have executed a legal fiction to reach into the womb and are able to protect a viable fetus based on what science generally thinks can be born and survive. That legal fiction is a balance between the rights of a living person (the woman) and the not yet alive, unborn fetus. I understand you may not like or agree with that, but it that is how it is and will be for the foreseeable future.

As for the honor, I'm not sure whether it is an honor or not. For example, meat is meat so I'm not sure why horses deserve special protection over cows and bunny rabbits. Speaking of which, rabbit is one way to tackle world hunger. They eat very little, are content with scraps of vegetation, reproduce like, well rabbits, and could be a viable source of protein the world over. :-) We also kill way too many dogs, cats, and rabbits every spring because irresponsible people buy them as christmas gifts without any clue about how to care for them or whether an animal is the right fit.

[genesweater]

It's a SHAME that our Public officials are Supporting Policies from a Known Organize Syndicates NON-TAXPAYING (nonprofit with 200 millin annual budget) Special interest ECONOMIC Extremsit Terrorist animal groups,hsus & their miltias..

please go to " internet search" type in

HSUS! FUndraising for TERROR Groups! Believe it!

[genesweater]

Public officials who are Conspiring with NON-TAXPAYING Extremist Terrorist animal groups,hsus and their SPONSORED anti-gamefowl sports laws VUIOLATES the AETA laws of 2006 sign by GWBUSH(Animal Enterprise Terrorism act law) it's Illegal for any Individuals to Conspire, Interfere with animal enterprise (FELONY CRIME) & they are VIOLATING the HUMAN RIGHTS Laws, the Right to Economic,Social & Cultural rights( Cultural gamefowl sport)

I hope the moderators will investigate the above claim and post the real thruths about these organize syndicates Economic Extremist Terrorist animal groups,hsus who sponsors Terrorism in the USA!

It's SHAME our Public officials /media would rather persecute unjustly and ruins human lives ,taxpayers,citizens,veterans because of CHICKENS that millions of us eat in tons!

Facts; gamechickens have the " CHOICE to fight or Not! and are Not Force to fight, it will run away or fly away so fast even inside the pit and any symptoms not fight are automatically withdraw and morelikely become chicken stew..

Facts; Once it hit Maturity it wull kill another male game chickens only EVEN
WITHOUT a KNIFE attached on their legs, but gentle to humans, other animals such as dogs, cats as long YOU DO NOT ABUSE him. and gentle to all Female hens and can mate over 50 hens in one season..

We DO NOT EAT DOGS..and DOGS are Artificially train to be vicious...

[genesweater]

here's a SUSTAINABLE TAX Revenues, new Sustainable Jobs creation & New businesses to open in agri/rural/indsutrial zoning areas in California, the Descriminalization of Cultural Gamefowl sports.( it Does NOT need TAX funding to create such economic impact in human lives and government)
The Millions of Dollars of income for the state ,jobs & businesses LOSSES for over a DECADE DUE to the Lobbying efforts of such NON_taxpaying Economic Extremist animal groups,hsus HAD a DEVASTATING ECONOMIC impact in California and public officials/medai are Supporting SUCH Economic Terrorist animal groups...