Arkansas Is Failing Its Animals—and Its Moral Duty
Why Arkansas Ranks Among the Worst States for Animal Protection—and How Christians Can Lead the Fight for Reform
Jul 21, 2025
Arkansas ranks near the bottom nationally when it comes to protecting animals from cruelty, neglect, and abuse. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s annual rankings, Arkansas consistently falls behind most other states, including conservative-leaning neighbors like Florida and Texas, in enforcing even the most basic standards of care. This reality is deeply concerning—not just for animal advocates, but for Christians and conservatives who believe in stewardship, accountability, and justice.
Comparing Arkansas to Florida: A Stark Divide
Florida, a deeply conservative state, has made meaningful strides in animal welfare. Its statutes include clear definitions of “adequate shelter,” mandate access to clean water, and impose criminal penalties for neglect and abandonment. Florida counties frequently prosecute animal hoarders and backyard breeders who confine dogs in squalor or fail to treat illness and injury.
In contrast, Arkansas’s laws are vague, lenient, and often unenforced. Law enforcement and prosecutors are left with little power to act—even when animals are suffering. There’s no statewide ban on animal tethering, no mandate for veterinary care, and—unlike Florida—no explicit requirement that shelter be suited to the animal’s size, breed, or health.
Legal Loopholes That Leave Animals to Die
One of the most damaging legal failures in Arkansas lies in the definition of “shelter.” Under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-62-101, “shelter” is defined as “a structure that provides protection from the elements.” That’s it.
This intentionally vague language means that a sheet of metal leaned against a shed or a plastic tub can be considered “shelter” under the law—even during snowstorms or 100-degree heatwaves. The statute does not require the shelter to be safe, dry, insulated, or even habitable. Crucially, there is no penalty for failing to provide it unless authorities can prove “cruelty,” which often demands photographic proof of prolonged suffering or death.
As a result, countless dogs across Arkansas are left chained in yards, freezing or overheating, unable to escape the elements. Many die while animal control officers stand by helplessly, citing lack of authority to intervene. The law fails these animals—and those trying to protect them.
Recent Cases Illustrate the Crisis
Earlier this year, in a rural Arkansas county, over 40 dogs were found living in feces and urine in a hoarding case. Despite public outcry, no charges were filed. The justification? The animals had access to “shelter” and weren’t visibly injured—yet multiple dogs died before rescue groups were allowed to intervene.
In another case, a puppy was found frozen to death on a chain outside a home in north Arkansas. The owner was never prosecuted, because the statute does not define what constitutes “adequate” shelter or require protection from the cold. Had this happened in Florida, it could have resulted in multiple criminal counts.
Where Arkansas Law Falls Short—and How to Fix It
Here are specific gaps in Arkansas’s animal welfare laws, along with clear legislative solutions:
| Issue | Current Law | Needed Reform |
|---|---|---|
| Definition of Shelter | § 5-62-101 only requires “protection from the elements” | Redefine “shelter” to include clean, dry, insulated structures that are safe, temperature-appropriate, and accessible |
| No Mandatory Shelter Penalty | No criminal or civil penalty for failing to provide shelter unless cruelty is proven | Create a specific misdemeanor for failure to provide adequate shelter, similar to leash law violations |
| No Veterinary Care Requirement | Arkansas law does not mandate medical attention for sick or injured animals | Require owners to seek veterinary care for animals showing signs of serious illness, injury, or emaciation |
| No Statewide Tethering Law | Arkansas has no law limiting how long dogs can be chained outdoors | Enact restrictions on tethering based on weather, age, size, and access to food/water |
| Hoarding Not Explicitly Criminalized | Animal hoarding is not separately addressed under Arkansas law | Create a specific statute for animal hoarding that allows for early intervention and mental health diversion programs |
| No Cost Reimbursement for Sheltered Animals | Rescues and taxpayers must absorb the cost of sheltering seized animals while cases drag on | Require a defendant charged with cruelty or neglect to post a bond or pay restitution to cover the cost of shelter, food, and medical care for animals during the investigation and prosecution process |
| Weak Definition of Abuse and Cruelty | § 5-62-103 requires proof that the offender acted knowingly or with the purpose to cause harm—making it hard to prosecute neglect or passive abuse | Broaden the statutory definition to include reckless or grossly negligent conduct that causes harm or prolonged suffering to animals; allow for civil penalties where criminal intent cannot be proven |
| No Spay/Neuter Requirement | Arkansas has no statewide law addressing pet overpopulation | Enact targeted spay/neuter laws for shelters, breeders, and repeat offenders to reduce unnecessary suffering and shelter euthanasia rates |
Why It Matters
Arkansas’s current animal welfare laws are riddled with vague definitions, high prosecutorial burdens, and dangerous loopholes that allow cruelty and neglect to persist—often without consequence. Without clear standards, enforceable penalties, and accountability for costs, animals continue to suffer while law enforcement and rescue organizations are left without the tools or resources to intervene.
This isn’t just about animals—it’s about justice, stewardship, and public responsibility.
Every year, shelters across Arkansas are overwhelmed by preventable suffering caused by irresponsible ownership, unchecked breeding, and the inability to act until it’s too late. Weak definitions of shelter and abuse, no requirement for veterinary care or spaying/neutering, and the lack of cost recovery all contribute to a broken system.
Strengthening Arkansas’s animal welfare laws is not a partisan issue—it’s a moral one. It reflects who we are as a people. Reforming these laws isn’t about more regulation—it’s about basic accountability, compassion, and ensuring that Arkansas is no longer one of the worst states in the country for animal protection.
A Christian Responsibility: Stewardship, Not Silence
Scripture is not silent about our responsibility toward animals. Proverbs 12:10 declares, “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” Genesis 1:26-28 reminds us that man was given dominion, not domination, and we are to exercise stewardship, not selfishness.
As Christians, we are called to care for the vulnerable—including the voiceless creatures entrusted to us. Turning a blind eye to neglect because “they’re just animals” is not only unbiblical, it contradicts the moral leadership we claim to stand for.
Time for Reform: A Conservative Case for Compassion
Fixing Arkansas’s animal welfare laws is not a liberal cause—it’s a human one. Strengthening penalties for neglect, clarifying the definition of “shelter,” and empowering law enforcement to act before animals die are common-sense measures that reflect values of justice, personal responsibility, and compassion.
Yet despite years of documented abuse, public outcry, and repeated proposals for reform, the Arkansas Legislature has failed to act—and the Governor has remained silent. While neighboring conservative states strengthen protections and pass cost-of-care, tethering, and cruelty statutes, Arkansas lags behind—leaving animals to suffer and those trying to help them powerless.
Conservative Christians in Arkansas have an opportunity—and a duty—to lead the charge. Let us not be remembered as a state that looked the other way while innocent animals suffered. Let us be remembered as people who did something about it.
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If you need legal help with an animal welfare issue contact The Lancaster Law Firm.
Just a homeschool mom hoping to make a positive difference in the world.
Thank you so so much for writing this! As someone who moved here from Connecticut (a top tier state), I can attest to the horrors of this state when it comes to animal welfare! I will help and advocate in anyway I can! I currently have 5 dogs! All rescues of course ❤️
As I agree with pretty much most of this agenda I do have a difference of opinion on some of these issues. You are concerned about an animal having an insulated house during the winter? I would disagree with that. Having shelter to stay warm, dry and out of the elements is fine. I have lived in Alaska and the dogs up there that are no different than down here live on chains next to their shelters. These could be wood dog houses or plastic barrel shelters. Most of the time you see these dogs on top of their shelters because they have acclimated themselves to the temperature. I do strongly feel the shelter should be one that is not going to cave when we do get snow or ice. Now on that note we put bedding in ours that refuse to stay inside to make them more comfortable.
As far as every single dog in the state being sterilized I am 100% against. There are legitimate breeders, even those that don’t breed very often. If we sterilize every animal how will the breed survive and future generations who want a dog possess one? You can’t control everything that people do in life. I have 3 German Shepherd’s. I bred the mother one time and kept 2 of her puppies for our family. Both females have been sterilized. After seeing what one birth did to her body I refuse to ever put them through that again, 13 puppies her first litter. Any good and responsible breeder knows you don’t breed every heat. But I have watched some of this high dollar breeders and that’s exactly what they do. This is horrible for the Sire and Dam. This is why sometimes it is better to look at individuals, see how long it’s been since that dog has had a litter and so on. You can tell how much people value their pets and the health of their pets by the amount of times/how often they are bred. Ours will never be bred again but we will gladly stud our male out.
Tell me how I can help. I’m currently fostering 2 puppies for a local rescue in Malvern. I believe they came from a hoarding situation with Jan Morgan involved. I’m an RN but the description I got turns my stomach. That’s saying a lot.