Think NC Is A Pet-Friendly State? This Might Surprise You.

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolinians love their pets as much as anyone, but it turns out the state has some room for improvement when it comes to creating an enriching and safe environment for its fur babies. More than half of the country is more pet friendly than the Tar Heel State, according to a ranking published this week by SafeWise.

The home security review website ranked the 50 U.S. states and the District and Columbia for pet friendliness based on factors such as animal cruelty laws and the numbers of animal shelters, veterinarians and dog parks.

North Carolina ranked last at No. 27, just after Hawaii and above Missouri. Really passionate pet lovers might look northeast to Maine, which took the top spot with nearly 1,000 pet-friendly hotels and 76 dog-friendly beaches, hiking trails and dog parks.

SEE ALSO: North Carolina Residents Love This Dog Breed The Most

SafeWise's ranking used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and web resources such as BringFido.com.

Charlotte has six off-leash dog parks, according to BringFido. But SafeWise's research found an apparent dearth of dog parks nationwide — there are just 0.0244 for every 1,000 people in the U.S.

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