By AP
Frankfort, KY – An animal protection group has named Kentucky as the worst state in the nation for laws that protect animals. The Animal Legal Defense Fund says it's looked at more than 4,000 pages of statutes in reaching its conclusions and says Kentucky is the worst for the fourth consecutive year. The organization cites the state's lack of felony provisions for extreme neglect or abandonment and lack of animal fighting provisions among reasons for its ranking. The five states named as the best for animals are the same as last year: Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon and California. Joining Kentucky at the bottom of the list are North Dakota, Idaho, Mississippi and Iowa.