The Humane Society of the United States today released its 2012 "Humane State Ranking," rating all fifty states and Washington DC on a wide range of laws ranging from animal fighting to farm animals to wildlife to companion animals. Though Indiana's score went up from last year, the state came in fifth from the bottom, the report saying Indiana has weak laws protecting wildlife from abuse and prohibiting the possession of dangerous exotic animals as pets. Illinois, however, was ranked near the top, as number two. California was number one. Illinois just recently became the fifth state to ban the sale of shark fins.

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