There are no federal laws in the U.S. governing the care of exotic animals kept by private individuals as "pets." Many state and local governments have enacted laws to protect animals and the public. The following is a general guide to states, localities, and countries that have prohibited or restricted the possession of exotic, native, and/or dangerous captive wildlife. Some states and localities have enacted grandfather clauses permitting individuals who acquired animals before the date of the ordinance to retain custody of the animals. Please contact PETA if you would like more detailed information regarding these restrictions and bans.
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States That Ban Possession by Private Individuals
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Alaska |
Hawaii Massachusetts New Hampshire New Mexico |
Tennessee Utah Vermont Wyoming |
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States with Partial Bans
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Connecticut |
Maryland Michigan |
Nebraska Virginia |
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Localities That Ban Possession by Private Individuals
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| Alabama Homewood Mountain Arkansas Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Michigan Minnesota Mississippi |
Missouri Arnold Jackson County Joplin Kansas City Maryland Heights North Kansas City St. Charles City Wyandotte Montana Nebraska Nevada New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Nebraska |
Oregon Beaverton Multnomah County Portland Springfield County Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas |
Pampa Paris Pasadena Pearland Plano Richardson Rosenberg San Antonio Seabrook Smith County Southlake Sugarland Tarrant County Victoria Webster Yorktown Virginia Washington Wisconsin |
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Localities Outside the U.S. with Bans
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Canada |
Peterborough Surrey Holland Italy |
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States That Set Restrictions
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Texas |
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Localities That Set Restrictions
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| Alabama Tuscaloosa Arizona Colorado Delaware Kansas Maryland |
Michigan Saginaw Wright Missouri New Mexico New York |
North Carolina Catawba County Ohio Oklahoma South Carolina Texas |
Collin City Grand Prairie Gaudalupe County Harris County Manvel Utah Virginia |