We love our furry friends.
But the question is, does the state you live in love them just as much?
Im not saying you’re gonna wanna move to these states or move out of them.
But bear these factors in mind if you are moving or considering getting a new family member.
How Many People Own a Pet in the US?
At the time of writing, there are more than 332,422,000 people in the USA.
But were not limited to just cats and dogs.
Fish and birds come in third and fourth place respectively.
We removed Alaska and Hawaii from our final results because not all datasets included these states.
Lets take a look at what those categories mean in more detail.
Those states with the highest pet ownership were considered more accommodating to pets.
It is important to flag that there is no governing body that determines what a no-kill shelter is.
No-kill doesnt equal no euthanasia.
The remaining 10% covers those animals where humane euthanasia is the kindest solution.
Its not a decision taken lightly, but some animals have serious, untreatable health issues.
Some experience chronic pain or have behavioral issues that make them a danger to the community.
These animals are sometimes put down.
In these shelters, that route is only taken when all other options have been exhausted.
While there is no governing body to regulate no-kill shelters, there are organizations fighting to improve no-kill rates.
In 2020, that number was 347,000.
Of all the shelters in Delaware, for example, 100% of them are considered no-kill shelters.
There are, however, a few anomalies out there.
Strength of Animal Protection Laws
Onto the legal issues.
So thats the legal bit sorted.
It might sound all doom and gloom now, but this is serious stuff.
We calculated this as a percentage of all properties for rent.
The higher the percentage of properties that allow animals, the friendlier the state its as simple as that.
So without further ado, lets meet our top 10.
Imagine a place where puppies and kittens cats skip paw-in-paw down the street.
They host get-togethers with hamsters and horses at the local off-leash park.
Okay, maybe not, but Maine is the closest were getting to it, so let me dream.
Nearly 83% of its shelters hold no-kill status.
According to data collected by the BFAS, more than 92% of animals have been saved in shelters.
That number has been climbing.
And it also has the best animal protection laws in the country overall, to date.
So we know Maine is making strides in saving and protecting animals, but what about day-to-day outings?
There are also 20 dog beaches, so theres no shortage of safe places to run around.
May I recommend the aptly named Dog Mountain?
Its a 150-acre farm that is now home to swimming ponds and hiking trails.
Plus, theres an unusual art gallery where dogs are the only muse.
Vermont even hosts a series of annual events dedicated to our pampered pooches.
So, youll have no trouble finding a home somewhere that suits you and your four-legged friends.
And if youre considering moving into the neighborhood, there are more than 605 pet services.
From pet sitters to doggie daycare and groomers, Illinois has got you covered.
If theyre allowed to roam freely, that is.
Thankfully youll find hundreds of dog-appropriate hiking trails.
Its got satisfactory animal protection laws and nearly 1,000 pet-friendly restaurants to choose from.
And its not just restaurants that will pull up a chair for your four-legged friends.
More than 1,000 hotels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds encourage you to bring your pets.
It has some strong animal protection laws and a high percentage of no-kill shelters.
Plus, many of its counties already meet the criteria for no-kill.
In fact, the number of animals killed in Oregon is in the hundreds rather than the thousands.
According to the Trust for Public Land, Oregon has more dog parks than any other state per capita.
This is thanks to Portland, which has 35 dog parks alone thats 5.4 per 100,000 residents.
Colorado A Consistently Strong & Safe State for Pets
Colorado makes the top 10 for many reasons.
But it doesnt stop there, as it continues to improve its laws year after year.
In 2020, the state banned killing contests for foxes, coyotes, and other small animals.
In 2019, it passed a new possession ban law for convicted animal abusers.
Thats an incredible 4 dog parks per 100,000 residents.
When it comes to no-kill shelters, Florida has some work to do.
As we explained in our methodology, every state has some work to do.
South Dakota
South Dakota tops our list of the least friendly states for a few reasons.
Equally, you wont find as many pet-friendly apartments or houses to rent.
Only 14% of the states shelters are considered no-kill.
Maryland
Maryland tells a similar story.
Yet, there are plenty of hotels and restaurants that will welcome pets.
There are no laws or regulations against tethering animals either, leaving Nebraska with plenty of work to do.
Thankfully, this number is increasing, but its a long way behind many other states.
Louisiana redeems itself in part thanks to its abundance of pet-friendly hotels.
This makes us think that maybe this is a place to visit with your pet, rather than live.
Theres plenty of hiking trails and dog parks if you do pop by.
New Mexico
New Mexico makes this list for having the most work to do regarding animal protection laws.
The ALDF ranked the state at the very bottom of its bottom tier.
New Mexicos laws do not provide adequate definitions of the standard of basic care for animals.
There are also no provisions for the abandonment or neglect of animals.
Theres no possession ban for people convicted of animal cruelty and no law against sexual assault on animals.
Well let you digest those facts…
6.
Aside from this, New Jersey is also in the bottom 5 of pet ownership rates in the country.
Its not the end of the world, of course.
However, this number has increased.
That means your options are considerably reduced if you plan to move.
Alabama
Alabama is another high-priority state when it comes to no-kill shelters.
Only 30% of its shelters meet the no-kill threshold of saving 90% of animals.
The states overall save rate is just under 75%.
Its also one of the 27 states with no laws or bans on tethering animals whatsoever.
It has no rescue laws for animals left in parked vehicles either.
In fact, its animal protection laws are some of the weakest in the country.
Its not a felony to abandon an animal, and theres no requirement to report suspected animal cruelty.
As a state, theres work to do.
But if we single out cities like Los Angeles, there are some real anomalies.
LA is now the countrys biggest no-kill city.
Yet, as a state, California is listed as a top priority for change on Bestfriends.org.
With only 32% of shelters no-kill shelters, these numbers remain high.
And this is not helped by the lack of laws for tethering and rescuing animals from parked vehicles.
That being said, pet ownership and pet-friendly rentals are high.
So, while the laws do not favor animals, there are plenty of them around!
What Else Makes for a Pet-Friendly Place?
But, if that were the case, you wouldnt be reading this now.
Wed still be drowning in spreadsheets and datasets.
Tethering laws prohibit this from happening for an unreasonable amount of time.
Amazingly, as of 2021, 27 states do not have a law against tethering at all.
That means 23 states have laws that control and limit how owners can tether their dogs.
A first offense will get you a written warning or a fine of no more than $50.
Of those states that do have laws limiting or controlling tethering, most stipulate the conditions of the tether.
No animal should be tethered to a post day in, day out.
But in nearly half of US states, there is simply no law to stop it from happening.
Previously, only local enforcement could act.
Those states that dont allow anyone to rescue an animal say that only certain people can do the rescuing.
In California, those listed above as well as firefighters and emergency responders have authorization.
These individuals may be best equipped to rescue an animal.
In Indiana, there is even less incentive to help.
The variation in these laws is significant in the hottest states in the US.
In these states, temperatures in a confined vehicle reach dangerous levels.
Florida, Texas, and Louisiana are often listed as 3 of the hottest states.
Each has an average annual temperature topping 70F / 21C.
Or protect people wanting to save an animal.
Theyre not illegal in America, but there is widespread opposition across the country.
So why are these facilities legal?
Those that are registered are regulated by the US Department of Agriculture.
However, less than 3,000 are actually regulated, and many more operate through loopholes in the law.
What keeps these puppy mills in business is retail stores buying puppies to sell on.
While the demand from retail continues, so will puppy mills.
Pet-Friendly State Parks
Puppy mills are commercial dog-breeding facilities set up to generate profit.
They often rank income over the wellbeing of dogs, and theyre big business in the US.
Mills arent illegal in America, but there is widespread opposition across the country.
But as many puppy mills are not registered, this number is likely to be much higher.
Female dogs are bred repeatedly, giving birth to an average of 9.4 puppies in their lifetime.
So why are these facilities legal?
This sets up minimum care standards, and registered mills are regulated by the US Department of Agriculture.
Yet, less than 3,000 are actually regulated, and many more operate through loopholes in the law.
What keeps these puppy mills in business is retail stores buying puppies to sell on.
While the demand from retail continues, so will puppy mills.
There is some progress, as a growing number of cities have banned the retail sale of pets.
In 2017, California passed a bill prohibiting the retail sale of pets across the state.
4 more states followed suit: Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Illinois.
Other states including New York have bills pending, but there is still much work to be done.
This number has jumped by more than a third from the previous year.
While it didnt make the top 10, its also worth mentioning New York for its 145 dog parks.
The four-legged among us can enjoy a slice of the action too.
Off-Leash Beaches
Obviously, far fewer states actually have beaches.
In fact, generalizing a whole state for its behavior in a country so vast is a little unfair.
In fact, LA is leading the way in becoming the largest no-kill city in the US.
Round of applause for LA.
These 5 cities havent gone through the rigorous testing that the states above have.
But theyve all managed to catch our eye as weve sifted through reams of research.
So without further ado, here are our honorable mentions.
There are more than 400 pet-friendly restaurants.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco is another city helping to redeem California.
So if youre into a more adults-and-dogs-only lifestyle, San Fran has got to top the list.
Not forgetting that there are almost 150 hotels and holiday rentals that will welcome pups with open arms.
Check out Mikos Corner Playground at Reid Park if your pup needs to run off some of that energy.
Youll also find that many of Arizonas state and national parks allow leashed dogs.
But this doesnt apply to them all, so double check before you visit.
Many local bars across the city let customers bring their pets along for a drink.
At the Liberty Hotel, from May to October, Yappier Hour is every Monday and Wednesday.
The season culminates in a Halloween dog costume competition.
Then theres Somerville Dog Festival at the end of summer, plus many year-round dog-friendly dog beaches too.
Heres a little breakdown of what to expect, according to Insurify.
The Impact of Covid-19 on Pet Adoption
We were always big fans of animals.
But the pandemic has sent pet adoption numbers through the roof.
PetPoint found that pet adoptions in the US rose 12% in 2020.
As lockdown took hold, many people adopted cats and dogs for company during the pandemic.
As people have returned to work and normality, the number of people returning pets has soared.
Best Friends Animal Society reported that the number of returned pets has risen more than 82% in 2020.
Regardless of this, a return to work should not warrant the return of an animal.
It highlights the importance of weighing up all factors before committing to adopting a pet.
Its not quite so simple for animals.
Well, thats what were asking dogs and cats to do.
But as weve also seen, change is happening, and its not all doom and gloom.
Time to get you some cat harnesses…
