Best States for Animals

The U.S. has nearly 3,000 native species of animals, but up to one-third of America’s species are at risk of extinction, so more conservation work is necessary. In addition, nearly 90.5 million households in the U.S. own pets, which rely on our support to survive, and residents of some states take better care of their pets than others.

In order to highlight the best states for animals and the ones that need to improve the most, SmileHub compared each of the 50 states on 18 key metrics. The data set ranges from the share of pet-owning households to state land designated for parks and wildlife to vulnerability to climate change.

If you want to support animal welfare but don’t know where to donate, check out our picks for the Best Charities for Animals in 2024.

• Main Findings
• Methodology

Main Findings

Most Animal-Friendly States

Overall Rank*	State	Total Score	Pet Ownership Rank	Animal Protection Rank	Animal Wellness Rank
1	Colorado	72.53	2	1	27
2	Oregon	61.93	17	7	22
3	Vermont	61.76	21	13	6
4	Indiana	61.06	6	24	13
5	Kansas	60.89	11	25	5
6	Missouri	60.57	8	26	8
7	Idaho	60.15	1	29	19
8	Tennessee	60.09	7	21	23
9	Florida	59.67	36	3	16
10	Nebraska	59.64	5	33	3
11	Virginia	58.02	24	11	33
12	Maine	57.17	27	10	36
13	Montana	55.56	35	27	1
14	Texas	54.50	31	16	34
15	Ohio	54.29	33	18	32
16	Oklahoma	54.28	4	46	4
17	Illinois	54.20	38	8	40
18	Michigan	53.95	30	20	25
19	Wyoming	53.69	23	31	7
20	Rhode Island	53.50	47	2	30
21	Washington	53.13	28	14	41
22	Pennsylvania	52.48	34	12	43
23	New Hampshire	52.35	49	6	21
24	Iowa	51.67	20	35	11
25	Arkansas	51.52	3	40	38
26	Wisconsin	51.05	32	28	26
27	Utah	50.96	14	38	17
28	Arizona	50.78	12	30	47
29	North Dakota	50.76	19	37	14
30	West Virginia	49.93	15	34	31
31	Louisiana	49.46	42	19	20
32	Kentucky	49.43	13	42	15
33	New Jersey	48.73	46	4	44
34	South Dakota	48.63	25	43	2
35	Minnesota	48.59	16	39	24
36	North Carolina	48.05	9	47	18
37	Nevada	47.82	39	23	39
38	Mississippi	47.06	10	49	9
39	South Carolina	46.68	22	44	12
40	Georgia	46.44	29	41	10
41	Alaska	46.41	37	32	37
42	California	46.25	40	5	50
43	Delaware	44.12	44	15	48
44	Massachusetts	43.75	50	9	42
45	Connecticut	41.42	45	22	46
46	New Mexico	40.88	18	50	28
47	New York	40.33	43	17	49
48	Alabama	40.02	26	48	29
49	Maryland	38.22	41	36	45
50	Hawaii	33.57	48	45	35

Note: *1 = Best

With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

 

Methodology

In order to determine the best states for animals, SmileHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Pet Ownership, 2) Animal Protection and 3) Animal Wellness.

We evaluated those dimensions using 18 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of animal-friendliness. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for population differences across states.

We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

Pet Ownership – Total Points: 30

• Share of Pet-Owning Households: Double Weight (~8.57 Points)
• Share of Rental Properties Allowing Large Dogs: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
• Share of Rental Properties Allowing Small Dogs: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
• Share of Rental Properties Allowing Cats: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
• Annual Cost of Feeding a Dog: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
• Annual Cost of Cat Food and Kitty Litter: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)

Animal Protection – Total Points: 50

• Animal Protection Laws Ranking: Double Weight (~13.33 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s “Best & Worst States for Animal Protection Laws” ranking.
• Share of No-Kill Shelters: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Animal Save Rate: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
  Note: This metric is determined by taking the number of animals saved in animal shelters divided by the number of animals entered into animal shelters in each state, based on data from Best Friends Animals Society.
• Share of State Land Designated for Parks and Wildlife: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Number of State Conservation Programs and Initiatives: Half Weight (~3.33 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to the number of conservation programs listed for each state by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service that directly or indirectly help the animals in each state.
• Animal Charities Per Capita*: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Vulnerability to Climate Change: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
  Note: This metric is determined by taking the average number of days of climate shift index values of 3 or higher, based on Climate Central data from December 2023 through February 2024. Record-shattering temperatures and widespread local heat extremes are among the deadliest weather-related hazards, so the greater the number of days, the more vulnerable to climate change we consider the state.

Animal Wellness – Total Points: 20

• Veterinarians per 1,000 Pet-Owning Households: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Average Monthly Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Average Monthly Pet Insurance Cost for Cats: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Average Annual Veterinary Cost for Dogs: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
• Average Annual Veterinary Cost for Cats: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Internal Revenue Service, American Veterinary Medical Association, Zillow, Pick Pet Vacuum, Pettable, Epic Pet Club, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Best Friends Animals Society, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service, Climate Central, Pawlicy Advisor and Banfield Pet Hospital.