Oregon Leads the Pack: #1 in the US for Animal Protection Laws in 2024
The Animal Legal Defense Fund, one of the United States’ leading legal animal advocacy groups, recently ranked Oregon again as the best state for animal protection laws. The state ranked #1 in 2024 and #2 in 2023.
Oregon #1 For Animal Protection Laws
The Animal Legal Defense Fund ranked states based on the strengths and weaknesses of each state’s applicable laws.
The Fund report indicated that “Oregon earned its top spot in the rankings because state lawmakers have led the way in passing important animal protection measures.”
Maine, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Colorado follow Oregon in the rankings, while North Dakota was the worst-# 50, for the second year running; Oregon is one of the few states to have a dedicated prosecutor for animal cruelty cases- a permanent appointment since 2023.
Penalties, including a five-year possession ban, were stiffened last year to apply to misdemeanor cruelties. It also gives certain offenders who are no longer an animal risk the opportunity to petition for their bans to be reduced or eliminated.
It is also the only state to recognize sentience in vertebrates (animals with a backbone), which is not the case on the federal level. The Animal Legal Defense Fund recognized that- in Oregon, these animals are “capable of experiencing pain, stress and fear.”
Yet there are a few weaknesses in Oregon’s animal protection laws that the fund suggests get attention, such as:
- Veterinarians are only required to report “aggravated cruelty.”
- Oregon doesn’t have a Courtroom Animal Advocate Program, which gives animal cruelty victims advocates.
The ranking means animals in Oregon may be enjoying the state as much as cyclists- #3 Among Bike-Friendly states, as well as students at Portland State University- in the top 10 Best College locations, and Oregon Tech- one of the best in the West.