Animal Protection

Thanks to the tireless efforts of animal welfare groups and concerned citizens throughout the country, animal cruelty now carries a felony sentence in 46 states plus the District of Columbia. But we can't stop there -- other states need our help! And American Humane needs your help!

As you can see from this map, five states (in blue) still do not have these strong animal cruelty laws. That means in one-tenth of this nation, an animal can be abused, neglected, or left for dead -- with the perpetrator receiving only a mild sentence.

We urge you to help! If your state is not one of the 46 states listed above that consider animal cruelty a felony, contact your senators and representatives and ask that they introduce legislation that recognizes the seriousness of these cruel act and calls for felony charges, as well as mandatory counseling.

Also, contact us. We'll assist you in this campaign with tools to help you write effective letters and tips on meeting with your legislators and working in your state to get stronger animal cruelty laws written and passed into law.

Cruel acts against animals are not just an animal protection issue. Research confirms a strong correlation between violence toward animals and violence toward humans. And it is widely recognized that perpetrators of violent behavior are more likely to have participated in violent acts against both children and animals.

Parents, community leaders, prosecutors, judges, and other individuals concerned with violence are recognizing the importance of animal cruelty as an indicator of disturbed family relationships and future aggressive behavior toward humans. For more information about this violence Link, please visit American Humane's National Resource Center on the Link Between Violence to People and Animals.