In their first "Humane State Ranking," the Humane Society of the United States ranked all 50 U.S. states on animal protection laws dealing with pets, wildlife and farm animals, and covering issues from animal cruelty to animals in research.

The HSUS graded each state in 65 animal-protection categories including animal fighting, puppy mills, equine protection, wildlife abuse, factory farming, fur and trapping, exotic animals and companion-animal laws. Each state received a score out of 65, which was determined by the number of strong animal-protection laws within the state. (Learn more about the rankings here.)

So who placed in the top?