Map of Veterinary Reporting Laws for Animal Cruelty

Label code (short name, no spaces)Label descriptive nameColor (Hex code, e.g. #80BFB9)
Label-1State with no law#8C510A
state_nodutyState with no duty (only immunity provision)#D8B365
state_mandatoryState with mandatory reporting#01665E
state_voluntaryState with voluntary reporting#5AB4AC
Map data: 
StateURL (relative path, e.g. /statute/name-of-page)Label code (must match Label code from Label creation table)
Alabama/administrative/al-veterinarian-issues-professional-rules-conductstate_mandatory
Alaska/administrative/ak-veterinary-reporting-12-aac-68100-confidential-relationshipstate_voluntary
Arizona/statute/az-veterinary-chapter-21-veterinarians#s2239state_mandatory
Arkansas/statute/ar-cruelty-consolidated-crueltyanimal-fighting-laws#s109state_noduty
California/statute/ca-veterinary-chapter-11-veterinary-medicine#s30_5state_mandatory
Colorado/statute/co-veterinary-veterinary-practice-code#s121state_mandatory
ConnecticutLabel-1
DelawareLabel-1
Florida/statute/fl-cruelty-humane-slaughter-consolidated-cruelty-statuteshumane-slaughter-laws#s12state_noduty
Georgia/statute/ga-cruelty-chapter-11-animal-protection#s17state_voluntary
Hawaii/statute/hi-veterinary-chapter-471-veterinary-medicine#s18state_mandatory
Idaho/statute/id-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s3514Astate_noduty
Illinois/statute/il-cruelty-generally-consolidated-cruelty-statutes-humane-care-animals-act#sec70_3_07state_mandatory
Indiana/statute/veterinary-article-381-veterinarians#s4_8_5state_noduty
IowaLabel-1
Kansas/administrative/ks-veterinarian-issues-professional-conductstate_mandatory
Kentucky/statute/ky-veterinary-chapter-321-veterinarians#s188state_voluntary
LouisianaLabel-1
Maine/statute/me-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s4018state_mandatory
Maryland/statute/md-veterinary-state-board-veterinary-medical-examiners#s313_1state_mandatory
Massachusetts/statute/ma-veterinary-registration-veterinarians#s58bstate_mandatory
Michigan/statute/mi-veterinary-chapter-333-health-public-health-code#s18827state_noduty
Minnesota/statute/mn-dog-consolidated-dog-laws#s346_37state_mandatory
Mississippi/statute/ms-veterinary-chapter-39-veterinarians#s87state_noduty
Missouri/administrative/mo-veterinary-20-csr-2270-6011-rules-professional-conductstate_mandatory
MontanaLabel-1
Nebraska/statute/ne-cruelty-article-10-offenses-against-animals#s1020state_mandatory
Nevada/statute/nv-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s053state_voluntary
New Hampshire/statute/nh-cruelty-cruelty-animals#s8state_noduty
New JerseyLabel-1
New Mexico/administrative/nm-veterinary-reporting-162538-conductstate_voluntary
New York/statute/ny-veterinary-article-135-veterinary-medicine-and-animal-health-technology#s14state_mandatory
North Carolina/statute/nc-cruelty-article-47-cruelty-animals#§%2014-360.1state_voluntary
North Dakota/administrative/nd-veterinarian-issues-professional-conductstate_mandatory
Ohio/statute/oh-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s07state_mandatory
Oklahoma/statute/ok-cruelty-animal-facilities-protection-actconsolidated-cruelty-laws#s16803state_mandatory
Oregon/statute/or-veterinary-chapter-686-veterinarians-veterinary-technicians#s442state_mandatory
Pennsylvania/administrative/pa-veterinary-issues-rules-professional-conductstate_mandatory
Rhode Island/statute/ri-cruelty-chapter-1-cruelty-animals#s26_1state_mandatory
South CarolinaLabel-1
South DakotaLabel-1
TennesseeLabel-1
Texas/statute/tx-veterinary-chapter-801-veterinarians#s3585state_noduty
Utah/statute/ut-veterinary-chapter-28-veterinary-practice-act#s602state_noduty
Vermont/statute/vt-veterinary-chapter-44-veterinary-medicine#s2404state_noduty
Virginia/statute/va-veterinary-chapter-38-veterinary-medicine#s38121state_mandatory
Washington/statute/wa-cruelty-chapter-1652-prevention-cruelty-animals#s330state_noduty
West Virginia/statute/wv-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s4astate_mandatory
Wisconsin/statute/wi-dog-consolidated-dog-laws#s173_12state_mandatory
WyomingLabel-1
Summary: This map links to laws related to reporting of animal cruelty by veterinarians (note that other animal care professionals and government employees may also have duties to report suspected cruelty). As of 2023, the majority of U.S. states have laws that either mandate or allow reporting (permissive reporting) of suspected animal cruelty by veterinary professionals OR have standalone laws that provide immunity for reporting of suspected cruelty. In most states with a mandatory or voluntary reporting law, a companion immunity provision is also provided. Such an immunity statute protects a veterinarian from any civil liability (and sometimes criminal) arising from the reporting of the abuse. About 23 states have MANDATORY reporting by veterinarians or veterinary professionals (note that some states are mandatory only for animal fighting or aggravated cruelty and Pennsylvania's regulation only applies to reporting abuse by other licensed veterinarians). Approximately 12 states have NO LAWS that deal with veterinary reporting of cruelty or immunity for reporting suspected cruelty.