In addition to the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, forty-six states have taken action in preventing animal cruelty. States that are highly active are California, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, and Oregon. California bans the declawing of cats while, in Virginia, legislation only allows declawing if it's medical. The Massachusetts and New York humane society obtains exclusive authority of influencing animal cruelty laws. Florida presented a ban, stating "A person who, for the purpose of practice, entertainment, or sport, intentionally fells, trips, or otherwise causes a cow to fall or lose its balance by means of roping, lassoing, dragging, or otherwise touching the tail of the cow commits a misdemeanor of the first degree." but it did not become a law. In other states, animal abuse isn't recognized as a misdemeanor.