Study Says Alabama Has Most Room To Improve For Animals

A new national study is putting Alabama at the bottom of the list when it comes to animal welfare.

According to a report from Smile Hub. Alabama ranked No. 50 overall in its 2025 list of the Best States for Animals. The study compared all 50 states across categories including pet ownership, animal protection laws and overall animal wellness.

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The report looked at 18 different metrics, including the number of veterinarians per pet-owning household, the percentage of no-kill shelters, animal save rates, pet-friendly housing availability and the strength of animal protection laws.

Alabama ranked last overall with a total score of 32.93. The state also ranked dead last in animal protection and finished No. 35 in pet ownership. Alabama’s highest category ranking came in animal wellness, where it finished No. 25 nationally.

According to the report, states like Oregon, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington ranked among the best states in the country for animals because of stronger protections, better shelter outcomes and higher levels of support for pet owners.

The findings come as animal shelters across Alabama continue facing overcrowding issues and rescue organizations push for stronger animal welfare laws and more support for adoption efforts.

The study also highlighted wildlife protection separately, where, sadly, Alabama ranked near the bottom again at No. 47 overall.