Post by LadyViper on Nov 4, 2007 16:13:19 GMT -6
Exotic Pet Laws
From Lianne McLeod,
Finding Out if a Pet is Legal Where You Live
The first thing a prospective exotic pet owner should do is check on the legality of the pet where they live. This can take some work to find out, and should be verified by personally talking to whichever agencies have jurisdiction in the area. There is no simple answer about who to ask about exotic pet laws, since which govenrmental agency or department has jurisdiction depends on the type of animal and where you live.
The Internet as Legal Resource
I do not recommend relying on information you find on the internet, as sometimes information is out of date or incomplete, and local laws (e.g. city by-laws) may supercede wider (e.g. state, provincial, federal) laws. Providing advice in this area gets very difficult because of the lack of consistency in laws pertaining to pets.
I do not have the resources to research all the laws, nor I cannot provide advice on whether a pet is legal where you live.
No Easy Answers
My usual advice to owners is to check the local level of government first - your city, town, or county. This is often the level at which the most restrictive laws are enacted. If you have a hard time finding out who you should call, try asking a local humane society, animal shelter, or veterinarian for advice. Sometimes health departments have regulations in addition to the city laws. If your prospective pet is legal locally, they next step would be to check at higher level. If you are in the US, call your state's department of wildlife or natural resources to check on possible restrictions (some states have strict laws over exotic pets; some have none). The next level to check is federal (country wide). In the US a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) license might be required so contact the nearest USDA office. Other agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services oversee the import and export of animals, and in some cases even the Centers for Disease Control and other health related departments might have restrictions in place. In Canada, most restrictive pet legislation is enacted locally (at the city or municipality level), but be sute to check with the provincial department that oversees wildlife and natural resources to be sure. Also, you may need to check into import regulations, which are managed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In other countries, I have to plead ignorance at the levels at which laws might exist regulating exotic pets, but the steps to check are largely the same: check locally first and then at higher levels of government (usually whatever agency oversees wildlife and environment, but sometimes health or agriculture departments are involved too).
Why Make This Effort?
Finding out the legal status of your chosen pet can be a hassle, but it, it is also a necessity. It is not safe to assume that if you find an animal locally that it is legal; reputable stores and breeders would not sell illegal pets but don't assume all sources are reputable. Whether the laws are fair is often questionable, but the laws exist and it is incumbent on pet owners to be aware of such laws. If a complaint is made about an illegal pet, these laws are often vigorously enforced and may result in confiscation and even euthanasia of your pet.
Reasons For Restrictions
Endangered ot threatened animals. The legal and illegal trade in wildlife can have dramatic effects on wild populations (it is said that for illegally obtained and smuggled animals, many more die than actually reach pet owners). Movement of endangered species are covered by an agreement entitled Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Safety Issues, for example the banning of potentially dangerous animals such as crocodiles or large cats
Invasive species: sometimes released or escaped pets can survive and reproduce in the wild and threaten native species. This can be a serious problem in some situations.
Exotic animals that have needs (living space, nutrtion) that are not easily met by the average owner may be restricted or require licensing.
However, not all laws are based on reason or on science. Many times it is simply political, unfortunately. All too often, broad generalizations are made which makes the laws encompass wide groups of animals as opposed to the narrower definition of species which should rightfully be protected, or animals are banned for illogical reasons. Nevertheless, keeping a species which is illegal can lead to heartbreak. It may be very difficult to find a veterinarian willing to treat an illegally kept animal, and the pet is likely to be confiscated in the case of a bite incident or complaint by a neighbor.
Summary
For a quick summary of the steps you can take in determining the legal status and/or licensing requirements for your exotic pet have a look at "How to Determine if a Particular Pet is Legal Where You Live."
exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilesgeneral/a/legalissues.htm
From Lianne McLeod,
Finding Out if a Pet is Legal Where You Live
The first thing a prospective exotic pet owner should do is check on the legality of the pet where they live. This can take some work to find out, and should be verified by personally talking to whichever agencies have jurisdiction in the area. There is no simple answer about who to ask about exotic pet laws, since which govenrmental agency or department has jurisdiction depends on the type of animal and where you live.
The Internet as Legal Resource
I do not recommend relying on information you find on the internet, as sometimes information is out of date or incomplete, and local laws (e.g. city by-laws) may supercede wider (e.g. state, provincial, federal) laws. Providing advice in this area gets very difficult because of the lack of consistency in laws pertaining to pets.
I do not have the resources to research all the laws, nor I cannot provide advice on whether a pet is legal where you live.
No Easy Answers
My usual advice to owners is to check the local level of government first - your city, town, or county. This is often the level at which the most restrictive laws are enacted. If you have a hard time finding out who you should call, try asking a local humane society, animal shelter, or veterinarian for advice. Sometimes health departments have regulations in addition to the city laws. If your prospective pet is legal locally, they next step would be to check at higher level. If you are in the US, call your state's department of wildlife or natural resources to check on possible restrictions (some states have strict laws over exotic pets; some have none). The next level to check is federal (country wide). In the US a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) license might be required so contact the nearest USDA office. Other agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services oversee the import and export of animals, and in some cases even the Centers for Disease Control and other health related departments might have restrictions in place. In Canada, most restrictive pet legislation is enacted locally (at the city or municipality level), but be sute to check with the provincial department that oversees wildlife and natural resources to be sure. Also, you may need to check into import regulations, which are managed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In other countries, I have to plead ignorance at the levels at which laws might exist regulating exotic pets, but the steps to check are largely the same: check locally first and then at higher levels of government (usually whatever agency oversees wildlife and environment, but sometimes health or agriculture departments are involved too).
Why Make This Effort?
Finding out the legal status of your chosen pet can be a hassle, but it, it is also a necessity. It is not safe to assume that if you find an animal locally that it is legal; reputable stores and breeders would not sell illegal pets but don't assume all sources are reputable. Whether the laws are fair is often questionable, but the laws exist and it is incumbent on pet owners to be aware of such laws. If a complaint is made about an illegal pet, these laws are often vigorously enforced and may result in confiscation and even euthanasia of your pet.
Reasons For Restrictions
Endangered ot threatened animals. The legal and illegal trade in wildlife can have dramatic effects on wild populations (it is said that for illegally obtained and smuggled animals, many more die than actually reach pet owners). Movement of endangered species are covered by an agreement entitled Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Safety Issues, for example the banning of potentially dangerous animals such as crocodiles or large cats
Invasive species: sometimes released or escaped pets can survive and reproduce in the wild and threaten native species. This can be a serious problem in some situations.
Exotic animals that have needs (living space, nutrtion) that are not easily met by the average owner may be restricted or require licensing.
However, not all laws are based on reason or on science. Many times it is simply political, unfortunately. All too often, broad generalizations are made which makes the laws encompass wide groups of animals as opposed to the narrower definition of species which should rightfully be protected, or animals are banned for illogical reasons. Nevertheless, keeping a species which is illegal can lead to heartbreak. It may be very difficult to find a veterinarian willing to treat an illegally kept animal, and the pet is likely to be confiscated in the case of a bite incident or complaint by a neighbor.
Summary
For a quick summary of the steps you can take in determining the legal status and/or licensing requirements for your exotic pet have a look at "How to Determine if a Particular Pet is Legal Where You Live."
exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilesgeneral/a/legalissues.htm