NoDak On the Bottom of This List. What Do Dog Owners Think About This Poll?

It's no secret that I love my dogs. It's also no secret that many staff members at the radio station have pets, be it dogs or cats. While doing research for another story, I ran across this information and was compelled to share it with you. Full disclosure, this is the most recent information I can find (3/31/10), North Dakota is listed in the bottom 5 states to own and raise a dog according to Bark.com. The 5 bottom states are North Dakota, Kentucky, Hawaii, Idaho and Mississippi. The top 5 states are Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, California.

According to Bark.com Some of the characteristics that separated the best from the worst were felony penalties for cruelty, neglect and abandonment, mandatory reporting of cruelty by veterinarians, and giving humane agents some law enforcement authority. 

This resonates with me as I recall the light fines brought against several individuals for animal cruelty in the state. Just recently some of those laws for cruelty to animals were harden, but until we as a community and a state force our legislators to stiffen the crime of cruelty to all animals, NoDak can expect to remain at the bottom of this list.

Do you agree with these findings? What do you think about the cruelty laws in NoDak?