Best states for animals

SmileHub  - With up to 40% of America’s native animal species at risk of extinction and over 150 million pets in households across the country relying on our support to survive, the non-profit organization SmileHub today released new reports on the Best Charities for Animals and the Best States for Animals in 2026.

In order to determine where America’s wildlife and animal companions live their best lives, SmileHub compared the animal-friendliness of all 50 states across 18 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of animal charities per capita to the number of state conservation programs and initiatives to the share of no-kill animal shelters.

Best States	Worst States
1. Oregon	41. Alaska
2. Colorado	42. South Carolina
3. Nebraska	43. Nevada
4. Washington	44. New York
5. Vermont	45. Mississippi
6. Montana	46. New Mexico
7. Kansas	47. Georgia
8. Minnesota	48. Hawaii
9. Missouri	49. Maryland
10. Michigan	50. Alabama

Key Stats

• California has the most animal charities per capita – 8.7 times more than Delaware, which has the fewest charities.
   
• New Hampshire has the most veterinarians per 1,000 pet-owning households – 3.2 times higher than Mississippi, which has the fewest veterinarians.
   
• Delaware and New Hampshire have the highest share of no-kill animal shelters – 3.4 times higher than Maryland, which has the lowest share.

To view the full report and your state’s rank