How many states have felony-level animal cruelty laws?
As of May 17, 2007, 48 states categorize at least one form of animal cruelty (or repeat offenses of certain misdemeanor acts of cruelty) as a felony. The District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico also have felony animal cruelty laws. The remaining two states with no animal cruelty felony provisions are North Dakota and South Dakota.