Washington Governor Signs Animal Protection Bills into Law

The Washington legislature passed four important animal protection bills this session that Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law in April and May 2025. The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) supported efforts to pass all four bills.

The following provides an overview of the laws that will go into effect on July 27, 2025:

• Washington is now the 12th state to protect wild animals forced to perform with the passage of S.B.5065, which bans the use of elephants, bears, wild cats, and nonhuman primates in traveling acts.

• Dogs, cats, and other animals have more protection during disasters with the newly passed H.B.1201, which will require, to the extent practicable, jurisdictions in the state to identify emergency shelters that can accommodate companion animals as well as include companion animal emergency preparedness plans on their websites in compliance with policies established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

• Animal abusers convicted of animal fighting will be prohibited from owning or living with animals, and animals will be protected from starvation, be ensured medical care, and receive improved minimum care standards thanks to strengthened animal cruelty statutes covered in H.B.1149, which passed the legislature with a near-unanimous vote.

• Good Samaritans who rescue at-risk companion animals and people locked in hot cars will now have civil immunity protection thanks to the legislature passing H.B.1046. So long as the rescuer abides by commonsense precautions, such as determining that the car is locked, using no more force than necessary, and contacting the authorities before entering the vehicle, they will not be held liable for damages connected to the lifesaving effort.

According to ALDF’s U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report, which ranks all 50 states on the strength of their animal protection laws, Washington sits near the top in 8th place.