Humane Society ranks S.C. low

The society this week released its second annual “Humane State Ranking.” It rates states on their laws regarding animal cruelty, wildlife, animals in research and farm animals.

California, New Jersey, Illinois and Massachusetts topped the list as animal-friendly states, while South Carolina tied with Arkansas, Kentucky, Montana, Utah and Wyoming for 38th place.

Mississippi, North Dakota, Idaho and South Dakota ranked at the bottom.

On its website, the Humane Society of the United States praised South Carolina for prohibiting Internet hunting and requiring that animals from shelters be spayed or neutered.