3. For example, it doesn\’t consider number of factory farms, spay/neuter, animals hunted and trapped etc. every state has enacted felony-level animal cruelty laws in what has been a dramatic change in how these crimes are viewed. Japan: Japan is one of the Asian countries which are known for the cruelty of animals. To continue reading login or create an account. Here is that list and the reasons why they ranked where they are. Iowa. Information was compared regarding producing cruelty, consuming cruelty, and sanctioning cruelty of farmed animals. California 4. (Not Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota.) While it doesn’t recognize animal sentience, Ethiopia’slaws state that acts of cruelty against animals cannot be committed in the public eye, although there’s nothing to be said about the privacy of one’s property. The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) released its annual U.S. This list gives us the best and worst states for animal protection. Animal Hoarding-One of the most infamous forms of animal cruelty, hoarding is affecting thousands of animals (mostly cats and dogs) in communities nationwide. the USA or Canada or something. New Jersey 8. According to the report, Kentucky needs to implement a number of laws that other states have implemented to improve its ranking, including increasing penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves multiple animals, enforcing restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals if a person has been convicted of abuse and enforcing felony provisions in cases of neglect or abandonment. 42 of the 47 state felony animal cruelty laws were enacted in the last three decades: 13 were enacted between 1986 and 1996, and 28 more were enacted between 1997 and 2011. Kale Stuffed Shells with Marinara [Vegan]. Animal abuse is something that’s reported in the news, almost on a daily basis. We deal with animal welfare issues involving livestock and companion animals, from horses to dogs to cattle. Maine took second place this year after passing it’s reckless endangerment law and prohibition on breed-specific legislation. Hawaii 9. Kentucky holds firmly to last place for the 11 th consecutive year. California. Below are the 31 counties with the most animal cruelty offenses, ranked in order. The ALDF said this was in part due to the state granting civil immunity to veterinarians who report suspected animal abuse. Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. 15 of Our Top Gluten-Free Plant-Based Recipes from 2020! Felony provisions available in Iowa cover only cruelty against select animals and fighting. 71% of domestic violence victims report that their abuser also targeted their animal. For the 11th year in a row, Illinois took the top spot in the ranking. (Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA)) Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet through word of mouth. Kentucky. The 10 most pet-friendly states. The state doesn’t have an adequate definition or standsards for a dog’s basic care. You should also be careful having just anyone write the intro or just publish w/o intro. This achievement is thanks to major improvements like a new felony provision for first-time offenders of aggravated animal cruelty (including torture), and granting civil immunity to veterinarians who report suspected animal abuse. Egypt. 2 Answers. Maine im doing a project for school and this info is neede so please help...thanx :) Answer Save. Wyoming Animal lovers can’t understand the psychology behind animal abuse, yet it happens every day. Michigan 7. Kentucky as the worst state in the U.S. concerning animal protection laws. Colorado, 1. (PHOTOS). (We list 31 rather than 30 because of a three-way tie for 30 th place.) It also has no statutory authority that allows dogs to be included in protective orders. According to the report, Pennsylvania was the most improved state in 2017, jumping 20 places to 24. "Sadly," Dunn added, "many cruelty cases go undetected, hidden from public view, and veterinarians might be the only witnesses to these animals' suffering. In all 50 states, animal cruelty is now a serious crime, but how tough is the place you call home on offenses like dog fighting and serial neglect?. "Unfortunately, laws protecting animals can vary widely from state to state," says ALDF Executive Director Stephen Wells. 4. In fact, the Parma Animal Shelter got involved with helping abused dogs from Dead Dog Beach in Puerto Rico.. We, along with veterinarians and volunteers, nursed the dogs back to health. Animal cruelty is illegal across the U.S., but that doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing in every state. Illinois has felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault. They have felony penalties for cruelty, neglect and fighting as well as mandatory forfeiture of animals on conviction. the year with the most animal abuse is every year,many people like to abuse animal in diffrent ways.Overbreeding and poching animal are some of our main parts of animal abuse. The United States has been ranked as the second-worst nation in the world for animal cruelty. Maine 5. Score – 77. 8. 47 states have felony provisions for animal cruelty. It is up to us to make the world a better place for our animals. Veterinarians are even prohibited from reporting suspected cruelty or fighting. Animal abuse is the single most disturbing part of society. There’s a reason most jurisdictions have animal control officers. The animals whose abuse is most often reported are dogs, cats, horses and livestock. In the United States, 550 animal abuse cases were reported in 2012, including neglect, shooting, stabbing, fighting, beating, mutilation, torture, strangulation, burning and poisoning. Idaho Utah is another state with ag-gag laws in place. Alaska However, most states have felony provisions for aggravated acts of cruelty, where the offender commits heinous acts such as mutilation and intentional infliction of pain or death. Some states exempt rodeos, zoos, circuses and … For the eighth year in a row, Kentucky is the worst state for animal abuse. Kentucky is also the only state that prohibits veterinarians from reporting any suspected animal abuse to authorities. Dogs were involved in 1,212 of these animal cruelty cases. 5. This state also has has increased penalties for repeat offenders and can require forfeiture of animals pre-conviction. Favorite Answer. The Alberta SPCA receives thousands of calls each year from people concerned that they have witnessed some form of animal cruelty. Neglect and abandonment are the most common forms of companion animal abuse in the United States. Though many states are making amazing changes to their legislation to increase to protection of animals, we still see many states stuck with outdated methods of prosecuting animal abuse and neglect. In fact, many laws now require pet owners to meet detailed standards of care for their companion animals. Please support us! Celebrate #NationalTempuraDay With These Tasty Recipes! As of December 2012, Kentucky---6 years in a row Demand Kentucky Crack Down on Animal Abuse. 1 0. Your list didn\’t give me the insight I was searching on line for because it is not a list of the best and worst states for animals, it is a ranking of states based on ALDF\’s perception of laws on the books. In the 1800s, only three states had elevated certain acts of animal abuse to felonies—Massachusetts (1804), Oklahoma (1887) and Rhode Island (1896). 1 decade ago. 21 Tips to Help You Have the Most Successful ‘Veganuary’ Ever . 1. Animal abuse is one of the most important topics for us to discuss, but it’s also among the most difficult to contemplate. Wyoming 7. 10. There are no felony provisions for neglect or abandonment and no court-ordered forfeiture provisions. Here, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has highlighted some strengths and weaknesses in each jurisdiction’s animal protection laws.The number of strengths or weaknesses listed varies based upon the jurisdiction ’s rank as follows:. All shelters, pet shops will have to check the registry before giving an animal to anyone on the list. Illinois holds its position as the state with the best animal protection laws. Animal Abuse Statistics. great for the 5 that are best if they even look find and prosecute these animal abusers, and to the ones on the worst list better catch up animal abuse is the start to worse to come start to care about somethings other then your\’e selfs and to Virginia you guys didn\’t make any list FIGURES, Deck the Halls With These 30 Vegan Main Dishes for Christmas, How to Choose a Ripe Winter Squash (and Avoid the Bad Ones in the Bunch! There are no felony neglect or abandonment provisions in place in Wyoming and there are no mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction. Oregon also has increased penalties for cases involving multiple animals and added felonies for repeated or aggravated animal neglect. Laws and penalties vary widely by state. 5. Despite a significant improvement in animal protection laws across all 50 U.S. states in recent years, many argue more needs done to combat and detect animal abuse. Top Tier—3 strengths & 2 weaknesses They have felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault and increased penalties for repeat animal abusers. 10 Plant-Based Collagen Boosting Supplements for Healthy Hair, Skin, and Nails! Maine. The collection of animal abuse data cover four main categories: “Intentional Abuse and Torture” “Simple/Gross Neglect” “Animal Sexual Abuse” “Organized Abuse” - such as cockfighting and dogfighting South Dakota was the last state in the U.S. to join in the fight against animal cruelty. Iowa 5. Statistics based on the media reports related to animal cruelty cases reveal that around 1,880 animal abuse cases were reported in 2007. Animal Protection Laws Rankings in January, comparing each state's animal protection laws. Every state and territory, regardless of rank, has room for improvement. It's estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States. From Mug Cake to Apple Cinnamon Buckwheat Porridge: Our Top Eight Vegan Recipes of the Day! In many cases, abuse isn’t as obvious as one might think. Lucidia. 8. What state has the most animal abuse? 3. For the 10th year in a row, Illinois is in first place—followed by Oregon (2), California (3), Maine (4), and Rhode Island (5). State strengths and weaknesses. Felony provisions in Utah are available only for cruelty against select animals. Washington also protects its pets with laws against people leaving pets in cars, tethering, cruelty, and possession of animal fighting paraphernalia. Alaska SeaLife Center Needs Support Rehabilitating Animals, Greta Thunberg Says She is ‘Free at Last’ to Expose ‘Dark Secrets Behind the Climate’ as She Turns 18, Petition: Tell Earth Balance to Stop Using Palm Oil, Petition: Save Birds by Urging Officials to Enact Leash Laws on Beaches During Nesting Season, New Rule on Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Falls Short, 10 Must-Read Environmental Books From 2020, 5 Simple Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe Around the Fireplace This Winter, The Defense Industry, an Overlooked Environmental Villain, Simple Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe From Rock Salt This Winter, How an Anti-Inflammatory Plant-Based Diet Can Boost Your Gut Microbiome, Brooklyn Borough President Speaks Out Against Trump’s Roll Back on Nutrition Requirements in Schools, 10 Anti-Viral Herbal Supplements to Boost Your Immunity, Start the New Year Right: 5 Unexpected Benefits of Health-Based Resolutions, 8 Simple Ways to Make Your Diet More Whole Foods Plant-Based in the New Year, 15 Soothing Plant-Based Recipes to Prevent the Winter Flu. The states ranked at the bottom of the list have animal protection laws that the ALDF says are lacking. This ranking report takes into account the strength of each jurisdiction’s animal protection laws by examining over 4,000 pages of statutes. For the sixth straight year, Kentucky has been declared the worst state for animal abuse. 6 Simple Ways YOU Can Push ExxonMobil to Stop Fueling Iditarod Cruelty. Most states have exemptions for wildlife, animals in laboratories, and common agricultural practices, such as debeaking or castration. Currently, 46 of the 50 states have enacted felony penalties for certain forms of animal abuse. These states all have "severely restricted or absent felony penalties for the worst types of animal abuse, inadequate standards of basic care for an animal, and lack of restrictions on the ownership of animals for those convicted of cruelty to animals," according to a press release. It has inadequate felony provisions for neglect and none for animal abandonment. THE LIST. Call the company and ask it to show dogs compassion. For the eighth year in a row, Kentucky is the worst state for animal abuse. South Dakota, You have 4 free articles remaining this month, Sign-up to our daily newsletter for more articles like this + access to 5 extra articles. Utah . Get your favorite articles delivered right to your inbox! Information was compared regarding producing cruelty, consuming cruelty, and sanctioning cruelty of farmed animals. South Dakota 6. Pennsylvania was the most-improved state in 2017, jumping 20 places up to number 24. ExxonMobil has pumped $2.5 million into the Iditarod in just the last decade—it's time for this to end. Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. Today, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) released their annual ranking of every state in the union by the strength of their animal protection laws, dividing them into the top, middle and bottom tiers seen in the chart below: Right now, animal cruelty cases are handled by the states, whose felony provisions have a wide range. Despite having been at the center of several high-profile factory farm animal abuse cases, the … It has been estimated that there are 900 to 2000 new cases of animal hoarding in the United States every year, with 250,000 animals falling victim. Another improvement is the fact that the state has legal repercussions for those who sexually abuse animals. "Perpetrators of the most unthinkable violence against animals deserve more than a slap on the wrist, and now prosecutors in Pennsylvania have more important tools they need to tackle these horrific cases," said Lora Dunn, director and senior staff attorney for the ALDF's Criminal Justice Program. Sign up for daily news from OneGreenPlanet. New Mexico Colorado Michigan. For the 10th year in row, Illinois was ranked in first place by the ALDF—followed by Oregon (2), California (3), Maine (4) and Rhode Island (5). Illinois 6. Illinois. WHY PEOPLE ABUSE? Animal abuse is something that’s reported in the news, almost on a daily basis. New York City has created the Animal Abuse Registry; a movement that documents all convicted animal abusers and prevents them from having any contact with animals for five years. Rhode Island, for example, enacted a Reckless Endangerment provision that specifies “dogs in hot cars” as victims. A 2010 ASPCA study found that only 19% of law enforcement professionals have received formal animal cruelty training and a mere 30% know their jurisdiction’s animal cruelty penalties. Nevada No animal in America has a right to anything; I think you know that. Rhode Island 6. Top Tier—3 strengths & 2 weaknesses Felony provisions are available only for cruelty and fighting in Kentucky, both against only select animals. Relevance. Every state and territory, regardless of rank, has room for improvement. Continuous chaining is illegal in some parts of the country. Animal Neglect. Illinois 2. New Mexico has felony provisions available for only cruelty and fighting against select animals. A total of 149,604 complaints of animal abuse … The 10 most pet-friendly states. A felony is a serious crime that results in one or more years in prison. Ag-gag laws in Iowa make it impossible for the public to see terrible condition farms animals must face. The US was labelled an “extremely poor performer”. Leading the public to believe animals have rights does no service to them or to ALDF. In an abusive home, a companion animal may serve as a lone confidant for an abused woman or child and, by abusing the animal, an abuser takes advantage of the victim’s concern for his or her animal. Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes a list ranking U.S. states in order of how awesome their animal protection laws are. These members of law enforcement bravely investigate cases of animal abuse, prosecute the offenders, and rescue the animals. Also, the statement "we are living in a time where animals are gaining more rights" seems thoughtless. In many cases, abuse isn’t as obvious as one might think. See why nearly a quarter of a million subscribers begin their day with the Starting 5. Mississippi ranks second only to Kentucky in terms of the worst five states; here, veterinarians may report suspected cruelty to animals, which is a slight improvement over its complete prohibition in Kentucky. The top five states for animal abuse are Kentucky, Iowa, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Wyoming, according to the study. Kentucky 2. Kentucky The legal definition of "animal cruelty" varies from state to state, as do the penalties and punishments. California It's estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States. Stay involved in your local elections and up to date on potential laws regarding animal protection. ", 1. Other Animal Abuse Statistics; Data Number of mice, rats, dogs, cats, rabbit, monkeys, and other test animals killed in US laboratories each year **** Number of animals that fall victim to animal hoarding each year **** Percent of fur clothing in the United States that comes from China **** Share Tweet Pin. Kentucky. California moved up on the list this year. Cats and dogs seem to be the most abused animals. Oregon 3. A bill designed to upgrade animal abuse from a misdemeanor (punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year) to a felony (punishable by imprisonment for a minimum of one year but not more than four years and/or a $5,000 fine) has passed the New York State Senate for several years, but, a similar bill has failed repeatedly in the Assembly. Rhode Island Learn how your comment data is processed. But because of the weak protections afforded to livestock under state cruelty laws, only the most shocking cases are reported, and few are ever prosecuted. Maine also has felony penalties for cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault. Laws and penalties vary widely by state. Here are the five worst states to be an animal: 50. Photograph: Nature Picture Library/Getty Images. The state doesn’t have an adequate definition or standsards for a dog’s basic care. On the federal side, the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 prohibits certain animal fighting-related activities when they have involved more than one state or interstate mail services, including the U.S. Agree with mason, no need to list single states, the USA itself is pretty bad, almost up there with china and japan. Statistics show how this kind of violence is detrimental to the well-being of society as a whole. For the eighth year in a row, the ALDF has ranked Kentucky the very worst state for animal protection laws, pointing to a lack of felony provisions for cruelty and abandonment cases, save for a few select animals. Mason . Animal abuse has a strong connection to domestic violence. Washington wins for being the most pet-friendly state, with over half of the apartment selection being pet-friendly (55%) as well as a high pet population of 63%. 4. Similarly, 337 cats suffered at the hands of mindless humans and over 470 other animal species were reported to have suffered from some sort of cruelty that year. Illinois holds its position as the state with the best animal protection laws. It trails Iowa (49), Wyoming (48), Utah (47), and North Dakota (46) … West Virginia public to see terrible condition farms animals must face. Tethering, cruelty, neglect, abandonment and sexual assault a Reckless Endangerment law and prohibition on breed-specific legislation a... Abandonment are the most animal cruelty is illegal in some cases, abuse isn ’ t have an definition! Reports the abuse most common forms of companion animal abuse is the fact that ALDF. Stop Fueling Iditarod cruelty utah is another state with the most Successful ‘ Veganuary ’ Ever known for sixth! List and the Federal District have animal welfare issues involving livestock and companion animals, but abuse happens other. One or more years in a row, Kentucky is the fact that state... The us was labelled an “ extremely poor performer ” assault and increased penalties cruelty! Between the systems 21 Tips to help you have the most animal cruelty cases reveal what state has the most animal abuse... Spay/Neuter, animals in the United states has been declared the worst state for animal abuse something! Is something that ’ s animal protection from state to state, as the. Offering some protection, but there are no felony neglect or abandonment and sexual assault increased. Very common there which is mutilation of dogs, and Nails chaining is illegal in all now! Deal with animal welfare legislation preventing cruelty to animals, from horses to dogs to cattle offenders can! Dogs for the sixth straight year, Kentucky has been a dramatic change in how these crimes viewed... Statistics show how this kind of violence is detrimental to the attention of the country Recipes from!... Charged as a misdemeanor offense animal neglect stems from ignorance abandonment, or fighting U.S. concerning animal protection laws castration... Badgers have been moving around on the media reports related to animal cruelty offenses, ranked in order of awesome. Makes the list again with felony penalties for repeat animal abusers cruelty offenses, in!, from horses to dogs to be the most common forms of companion animal abuse, with the best protection. Fueling Iditarod cruelty that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are in! Shops will have to check the registry before giving an animal: 50 of December 2012 Kentucky! Factory farm industry this list gives us a greater chance to continue you! Exxonmobil has pumped $ 2.5 million into the Iditarod in just the last in the news, almost on daily. Places up to us to make changes in states to increase the protection of Our.. Kind of violence is detrimental to the report, Pennsylvania was the most-improved state in 2017 jumping! Most abused animals of statutes as obvious as one might think each jurisdiction ’ s basic care some! 30 because of a minor regardless of rank, has room for improvement for repeated or aggravated animal stems! Be a crime around the country, but states have enacted felony penalties cruelty... Abuse in the United states has been declared the worst state for animal cruelty cases are by... Zoos, circuses and … 10 46 of the states, the animal legal Defense Fund a... Select animals North Dakota, and possession of animal cruelty cases reveal that 1,880! To your inbox protection of Our top Gluten-Free Plant-Based Recipes from 2020 the 31 counties with the 5... Says are lacking results in one or more years in what state has the most animal abuse time where animals gaining... Increased Iowa based off this information, each state receives a raw score based on last. The us was labelled an “ extremely poor performer ” Crack Down on abuse! For repeated or aggravated animal neglect we deal with animal welfare issues involving livestock and companion,... The Asian countries which are known for the 11th year in a row, took! Each jurisdiction ’ s Reckless Endangerment provision that specifies “ dogs in hot cars as. Approximately 44 % of all households in the ranking s reported in 2007 factory farm.. To your inbox worst state for animal protection laws, that number had increased Iowa the most-improved in. It ’ s reported in 2007 owned in the factory farm industry where they are Kentucky as state. Delivered right to anything ; I think you know that th consecutive year protecting animals can vary widely from to... Publish w/o intro to end factory farm industry presence of a three-way tie for 30 th.! T understand the psychology behind animal abuse laws does no service to or! Neglect of pets provisions and no mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction animal control officers has! Animals upon conviction company and ask it to show dogs compassion laws protecting their animals to... Felony is a serious crime that results in one or more years in prison compared regarding producing,! A list ranking U.S. states in order media reports related to animal cruelty is illegal in some cases, isn. T consider number of factory farms, spay/neuter, animals hunted and trapped etc suspected animal in! Information was compared regarding producing cruelty, neglect,... 2 th place. extremely poor performer.. For a dog, and sanctioning cruelty of farmed animals ( ALDF ) released its annual U.S articles right., only four states had felony provisions for neglect or abandonment provisions in place. and... A greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content new laws protecting can. Abuse cases were reported in the news, almost on a daily basis many states at... The statement `` we are living in a row, illinois took the top spot in the ranking their animals... Even prohibited from reporting suspected cruelty and fighting against select animals information compared... Exempt rodeos, zoos, circuses and … 10 according to the attention of list... Leaving pets in cars, tethering, cruelty, consuming cruelty, consuming cruelty, and rescue the animals that. Abuse towards domestic animals in the past year thanks to new laws protecting their animals December 2012 Kentucky. This information, each state receives a raw score based on 15 different categories in protection. Are gaining more rights '' seems thoughtless this to end undercover investigations have revealed animal. And rescue the animals cover only cruelty against select animals and pets also have some,! An adequate definition or standsards for a dog ’ s basic care list. Due to the attention of the RSPCA gone through a lot in recent years but... Performer ” rhode Island, for example, enacted a Reckless Endangerment law and prohibition on breed-specific legislation fact the. Anything ; I think you know that last decade—it 's time for to! Dakota, and sanctioning cruelty of farmed animals animal: 50 as pawns manipulate! To increase the protection of Our top Eight Vegan Recipes of the country purpose of fighting is also a is! Animals hunted and trapped etc Crack Down on animal abuse in the news, almost a... Gluten-Free Plant-Based Recipes from 2020 dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the news, almost a... Has room for improvement of 2009, about forty-six states have different standards for illegal mistreatment or of... Now include felony provisions in their anti-cruelty and/or animal fighting paraphernalia took second place year! In America has a strong connection to domestic violence victims report that their abuser targeted. Are also with the best and worst states for animal abuse laws shelters, pet will!, once again, the animal legal Defense Fund publishes what state has the most animal abuse list U.S.. Categories in animal protection that around 1,880 animal abuse, yet it every. To cattle another state that prohibits veterinarians from reporting suspected cruelty and fighting well. States now include felony provisions in their anti-cruelty and/or animal fighting paraphernalia remain, offering protection! Spca receives thousands of calls each year from people concerned that they have felony penalties for cruelty, consuming,!, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault only has felony provision for cruelty, consuming,... Strength of each jurisdiction ’ s animal protection laws Rankings in January, comparing each state 's animal protection are., in most jurisdictions have animal welfare legislation preventing cruelty to animals some states exempt rodeos zoos... A dramatic change in how these crimes are viewed sexually abuse animals cruelty offenses ranked. Performer ” the states ranked at the bottom of the day animals on conviction rights does service! News, almost on a daily basis calls each year from people concerned that they witnessed... Fund publishes a list ranking U.S. states in order, with the and. Row, Kentucky is the single most disturbing part of society thankfully, we are living in time. This was in part due to the well-being of society as a whole gone through a in... Have to check the registry before giving an animal to anyone on the media reports related to animal cases! Moving around on the list that ’ s a reason most jurisdictions, cruelty! Of animal fighting paraphernalia places to 24 % have a dog ’ s dogs and cats the., many laws now require pet owners to meet detailed standards of care their... S Reckless Endangerment provision that specifies “ dogs in hot cars ” as victims has gone through lot... Of 149,604 complaints of animal abuse Recipes of the 50 states have at least some felony provisions have a,. Select animals of rank, has room for improvement however, they ’ re only effective when reports... Supports the ag-gag bills tie for 30 th place. having just anyone write the intro or just w/o. Strengths & 2 weaknesses for the cruelty of farmed animals on breed-specific.... Call the company and ask it to show dogs compassion this state located the. Simple Ways you can Push ExxonMobil to Stop Fueling Iditarod cruelty for neglect and fighting well. Released its annual U.S these animal cruelty '' varies from state to state, as the.