One study deems Oklahoma as having the third most irresponsible dog owners in the nation, while another ranks Oklahoma’s animal protection laws in the middle tier of states Forbes Advisor conducted a comprehensive survey of 10,000 dog owners, with 200 surveyed in each state, to analyze which states have the most conscientious pet parents.
Being a responsible dog owner means keeping your furry friend happy and healthy. Part of that responsibility includes regular check-ups at the veterinarian, staying up-to-date with vaccinations, and ensuring that your dog gets regular exercise and a nutritious diet. It also includes hygiene care, such as proper dental health and keeping the animal’s nails trimmed.
Keeping a dog healthy not only keeps it happy but is best for the overall family. Dogs can face serious health issues ranging from infections and allergies to life-threatening conditions such as cancer and arthritis. These illnesses not only affect a dog’s quality of life, but can also take a mental toll on both the dog and its family.
The Forbes Advisor survey indicated nearly half of dog owners (45%) take their pets to the veterinarian more than once per year for check-ups, and 43% of dog owners take their canine to the vet at least once per year. Most dogs (84%) are up-todate on their vaccinations, according to their owners. Key takeaways Seven of the 10 states with the most responsible dog owners are located on the East Coast.
Washington ranked as the state with the most responsible dog owners, by a wide margin (13 points in the ranking index). New York ranked #2, Maryland #3, Florida #4, Georgia #5,Vermont #6,Texas #7, and New Hampshire #8.
Three of the five states home to the least responsible dog owners are located in the Southwest region of the U.S. In particular, Arizona ranked as the state with the least responsible dog owners, and Idaho was close behind at #49.
Oklahoma was ranked #48; Kentucky #47, New Mexico #46, Arkansas #45, Minnesota #44, and Missouri #43. Kansas was ranked 25th.
Oklahoma’s score was just 4.6 out of 100, in part because ours is considered the third most irresponsible state when it comes to dog owners who are missing out on opportunities to socialize and train their dogs.
Oklahoma reported the lowest percentage of owners who take their canine companions to training classes (8%); ranked as the second worst state in percentage of dog owners who have visitors come over and bring other dogs to help socialize their dog (25%); and ranked as the fourth worst state in owners who report having a location device (such as a microchip/ AirTag) for their dog (40%, compared to the study average of 56%).
Nearly 16% of the respondents to the Forbes Advisor study reported brushing their dog’s teeth on a weekly basis. Brushing their dog’s teeth once every few weeks was the second most common response in the survey.
Most dog owners reported clipping their dogs’ nails on a monthly basis (30%), followed by a few times a year (28%).
Nearly all (93%) of dog owners walk their dog at least once a week.
Pet owners report taking their dog to the dog park as the most common form of socialization (42%), which is important for a pet’s confidence, exercise and stress levels.
The percentage of dog owners who take their pets to the veterinarian for a checkup at least once per year, if not more, was 96%.
Other results included: percentage of dogs that have a location device (74%); percentage of dog owners who take their dog to training classes (52%); percentage of dog owners who give their dog heartworm medication more than once a year (87%); and percentage of owners who give their dog flea and tick treatment once a month (36%). Animal protection laws Each year the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report. It is the longest-running and most authoritative of its kind, assessing the strength of each state and territory’s animal protection laws by examining more than 3,600 pages of statutes. Each state and territory is ranked based on 20 categories of animal protection.
In 2023,Texas was ranked #12, in the top tier; Kansas ranked #31 and Oklahoma ranked #33, in the middle tier; Missouri #37, Arkansas #39, and New Mexico #41, were in the bottom tier.
24/7 Tempo reviewed the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s “2019 U.S. Animal Protection Laws State Rankings.” The ALDF evaluated state animal protection laws, including penalties for animal abuse, reporting requirements, offender registration laws, general prohibitions such as prohibition of animal fighting, among other issues.
That year Oklahoma placed #28 in the nation. The criteria for that ranking included:
• Maximum penalty for aggravated cruelty: five years in prison or one year in a county jail and/or a $5,000 fine.
• Animals may be included in domestic violence protective orders: yes
• Veterinarian mandatory reporting of animal abuse: yes
• Households owning pets: 58.9% (20th highest in the nation) The average cost of pet insurance in Oklahoma in 2019 was $28.02 a month, the third-cheapest of any state, 24/7 Tempo reported.