10 Pets That Are Illegal In The United States

Pets are cherished parts of our houses who quickly become family members. In this order, dogs, cats, and fish are very fascinating pets in the United States. Exotic pets are also beloved around the country, yet many are prohibited in several areas.

That means you’ll have to do some homework to determine what pets should and shouldn’t be allowed in your municipality. Continue reading to discover ten creatures prohibited from being owned in some places of the United States.

Quail

Illegal in: Arkansas

Residents of Arkansas are not permitted to possess lions, tigers, or bears. Still, more common animals are prohibited as well. Rabbits and Quail are both banned pets. Surprisingly, keeping bobcats is acceptable as long as there are fewer than six.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission partnered up with Quail Forever to conserve local quail populations. While raising them as pets is not recommended, the organization strives to raise awareness among farmers and landowners on how to handle northern bobwhite quails on their land.

Venomous Reptiles

Illegal In: Most States

Georgia has one of the strangest rules in the country when it comes to reptiles. Keepers of innocuous, nonvenomous snakes, such as corn snakes and ball pythons, are prohibited from keeping them as pets. Surprisingly, a loophole allows the possession of venomous snakes, even the deadly copperhead, as long as permission is obtained.

Do we need to describe why it’s illegal in most states to keep a pet that can kill you? While the venom of a few snake species, such as the hognose snake, produces only minor discomfort, the poison of others can cause severe agony, organ failure, tissue disintegration, and even death. They can be stored safely by professional handlers, but it’s a bad idea for most people.

Falcons

Illegal In: Every State

You must first obtain a permit before you consider raising an awesome-looking raptor, owl, or falcon, which entails more than just passing a few tests. Like most other birds of prey, Falcons are not meant to be kept as pets. Only registered falconers with practical training are allowed to keep them in all states.

The purpose of falconry is to protect natural wildlife, and falconers must effectively become zoologists devoted to conservation efforts to retain wild birds lawfully. Even if they were legal, their enormous claws and ravenous appetite would make them poor pets.

Piranhas

Illegal In: Alabama

Alabama has a vast list of prohibited species, which explains why this particularly predatory fish was included in the list of banned pets. Piranhas are South American fish that are not for the weak of heart.

You’ll realize why this fish is on this ranking if you’ve seen the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.” Their name essentially translates to “biting fish” in Portuguese. They have one of the most dangerous bites among bony fishes, capable of shredding flesh.

Pit Bulls

Illegal In: Iowa, Ohio, and Kansas, among few

While there is no national prohibition on pit bull dogs, numerous localities have declared it unlawful to acquire one as a pet. The states with the most pit bull bans include Iowa, Ohio, and Kansas, with over 1,100 cities having some form of law against the canine.

What’s unfortunate about a dog breed’s ban is that most dogs are deemed unsafe because of how they were trained, not just because of the dog itself. “All canines, especially pit bulls, are unique individuals.”

According to The American Society for the Prevention, treating them as such, offering them care, training, and supervision they deserve and judging them based on their behavior rather than their DNA or physical appearance is the most effective method to secure their safety of Cruelty to Animals.

Tiny Turtles

Illegal In: All States

Tiny turtles gained notoriety for transmitting salmonella across the United States, just like hedgehogs.  As a result, the United States outlawed selling tiny turtles (those measuring less than 4 inches) in 1975.

According to NPR, approximately 280,000 turtle-related diseases per year before the prohibition. The majority of the salmonella infections affected young children since the little turtles were mainly kept as pets for small children.

Infections can still occur despite the restriction. “Turtle-associated salmonella was connected to eight outbreaks spanning 473 infections across 41 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico from May 2011 to September 2013,” according to NPR. “Approximately 28% of those who were ill had to be admitted to the hospital.”

Pigs

Illegal In: Most U.S. Cities

You’re not alone if you think pet pigs, minimal type, are adorable. According to Buzzfeed, there is a slew of Instagram accounts dedicated to documenting the life of pet pigs. While the mini pig craze persists, communities around the country are enacting prohibitions.

Pigs can become hostile and infected with rabies, leading to prohibitions in cities such as New York. Most countries also consider pigs livestock, which is often prohibited in cities.

Bengal Cats

Illegal In: New York, Georgia, Massachusetts, Iowa, Alaska, Hawaii, Delaware, Connecticut, and Indiana

While Bengal cats aren’t as large or frightening as lions and tigers, they are prohibited as pets in several states and towns (including Seattle and Denver). Bengal cats cross between a domestic cat and a small Asian leopard cat. They are energetic and intelligent.

You’ll still need to fill out paperwork and obtain a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if you live in a state where Bengal cats are not prohibited.

Monkeys

Illegal In: Most States

Monkeys, like slow lorises, are familiar visitors to local zoos. While roughly 4,500 monkeys are kept as pets in the United Kingdom, it is still banned in the United States.

Many states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wyoming, have particular bans against keeping monkeys as pets due to their popularity. Furthermore, animal rights advocates continue to try to enact prohibitions in the few states that do not have specific laws against the keeping of monkeys as pets.

Tigers

Illegal In: 21 States

“Tiger King,” a Netflix documentary, introduced the world to the strange business of extensive cat breeding. While almost everyone believes that the show’s stars had far too many animals, the program also emphasized the dangers of owning such animals.

All harmful exotic pets are prohibited in twenty-one states. Tigers, of course, fit into this category because they are exceedingly dangerous. However, exotic pet ownership is legal in Nevada, Wisconsin, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. While we don’t advocate it, if you want to add a tiger to your family, one of those states is the place to go.

Conclusion

Hopefully, our list has given you some clarity about the various laws surrounding the possession of animals in The United States.