Illinois has some of the toughest laws protecting animals in the United States.  In 2013 and 2012, The Animal Legal Defense Fund listed Illinois as the top state for animal protection laws.

Illinois has felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault, as well as increased penalties for repeat animal abusers and animal hoarders.

Learn more:
See where Illinois stacks up against other states.
The Humane Society of the United States has an interactive map comparing Illinois to other states.