DES MOINES, Iowa - The Animal Legal Defense Fund is out with state rankings for animal protection laws and Iowa ranks 49th
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa notes only Mississippi ranks worse, and has identified reasons for the poor showing.
The league says Iowa has no felony charge for first offense cruelty to animals, or for neglect or abandonment.
It also says the state has inadequate standards for basic care, and that felony animal abuse is only available for multiple offenses against certain species.
The Animal Rescue League has endorsed a bill in the state senate that it says will fix those problems.
Last year the house unanimously passed the bill known as HF737. That measure is in the senate this year.