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The Animal Legal Defense Fund has revealed its 2013 rankings for animal protection and, for the sixth straight year, Illinois was named the best state in the nation for animal cruelty laws.

Oregon, Michigan, Maine and California rounded out the top five. Kentucky, for the seventh straight year, was picked the worst, while neighboring state Missouri was 39th.

“I’ve been doing this for 31 years and I think we’ve made vast improvements in those years,” said Lloyd Nelson, a Jackson County Animal Control officer. “Part of that is due to humane societies and interested animal parties.”

Illinois earned the top spot because of felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault. The state has also increased penalties for frequent animal abusers and requires mandatory reporting of suspected animal cruelty by non-animal-related agencies and veterinarians.

“We don’t step on an individual’s rights to own an animal,” Nelson said. “I’m convinced we’ve made great strides in the area with our spray and neuter programs and our public information programs.

“We’re not there to write tickets, we’re there to ask people to comply.”