East Coast Group Ranks South Dakota Least Humane State

Contrary to what the Humane Society of the U.S. thinks, South Dakota considers itself animal-friendly, especially in its farming and ranching policies, says state veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven.

The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) considers South Dakota the least humane state in the nation, partly because the state does not have a number of recommended farming restrictions.

Farmers in the state say the idea that a Washington, DC, group can legislate good ranching practices is absurd.

"I think there are a lot of misinformed people who have never seen a cow and they have no idea," says Carl Sanders, a 34-year-old rancher from near Hot Springs. "They come up with all these grandiose ideas of what they think it should be."

The state meets just eight standards on a 66-item list of humane animal policies released by HSUS, which ranked South Dakota 51st among the states and Washington, DC, in 2011. Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota are also among the bottom 10. North Dakota meets 13 standards, and Montana and Wyoming each met 19. Nebraska meets 29 standards, while Minnesota meets 24.

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Discuss this Article 2

Anonymous (not verified)
on Feb 22, 2012

South Dakota agriculturalists probably have more time to take care of their land an animals because they do not have so many regulations. I would like to do more environmemtally beneficial projects, such as crossings, sediment basins, and other erosion control projects. The time and money taken up by permit requirements means at lot less good projects get done.

If God only needed 10 commandments, why does the government need so many?

Terry Church (not verified)
on Feb 22, 2012

I have never been able to figure out how someone can dictate how another should perform a job or manage a business without having done that particular job or business themselves. I feel we have to many people trying to tell us how to run our business or do a job without having experience in that particular area. Many of the ones trying to regulate and dictate to us have book knowledge, but no experience. Without experience, one does not have a true knowledge of a particular job or business. I feel that this is the way the HSUS is. They may or may not have knowledge and apparently no experience. They want people to believe that farmers and ranchers don't really care about their animals. If the HSUS can get our goverment to believe this, then they can get regulations put on farmers and ranchers and tell us how to run our business. If someone thinks farmers and ranchers don't care about their livestock, their WRONG! Many times these farmers and ranchers are out in the middle of the night, (in the cold, rain, and snow) checking on their livestock, While members of the HSUS are tucked away int their nice warm beds asleep.

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