When it comes to animal cruelty, New Brunswick is leading the pack in the worst way possible, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund. The international organization, based in California, said NB’s weak animal cruelty laws, lack of enforcement, and small penalties, make it one of the worst provinces for animal abuse (along with the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec). The criticism follows cross-province protests over an NB man who was acquitted of animal cruelty charges for killing five puppies with a hammer. T.J. Burke, the province’s justice minister, has asked Ottawa to amend its laws and says changes will be made to NB’s SPCA Act.