What's The Law
Laws and ordinances covering the use of exotic animals in entertainment and kept as "pets," birds and pet shops, control of coyotes, and regulations pertaining to trapping wildlife are a dizzying patchwork that vary from town to town, county to county, and state to state.
If you wish to change the law, then you must know what are the laws already in place. Here we provide you a summary of the laws and issues that Born Free USA is working on:
Companion Animals
- Summary of Pet Shop Laws by U.S. State
- Overview of The Current State of The Law
- Color-Coded Map of Laws Relating to Pet Shops (Acrobat PDF)
- Color-Coded Map of Laws Relating to Birds in Pet Shops (Acrobat PDF)
- Strengthening Pet Shop Laws
Exotic Animals
- State Laws Governing Private Possession of Exotic Animals
- Summary of State Laws Relating to Private Possession of Exotic Animals
- Color-Coded Map of Laws Governing Private Possession of Exotic Animals (Acrobat PDF)
- Color-Coded Map of Laws Governing Private Possession of Primates (Acrobat PDF)
- Ordinances Regulating Private Possession of Exotic Animals
- Laws Relating to Exotic Animal Auctions
- Summary of State Laws Relating to Exhibiting Exotic Animals
- Current Law and Suggested Approaches to Improving Captive Bird Welfare
Animals in Entertainment
- Local Restrictions Governing Traveling Shows and Circuses in the U.S. and Canada
- Summary of State Laws Relating to Exhibiting Exotic Animals




