Many laws are a product of their time, and even though they’re on the books, they’re actually rarely enforced. That’s sometimes the case for the weirdest laws about animals as well. They might have been for a specific scenario that doesn’t matter anymore, but not all of them. Some of them are relevant and still enforced to this day.
Some are weird, but help to make lives better for animals, and others help protect people from noisy pests or aggressive animals. There are even laws to help protect animals that may or may not exist and that definitely isn’t in the area where the law was established.
Curious about what 18 of the strangest animal laws are? Continue reading below to find out some of the quirkiest rules in various countries. Some make sense once you understand the reasoning behind them, but some are just so out there, that they’ll leave you confounded.
1. Limits on Dog Sizes
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2021/10/Akita-Shiba-Inu-and-Hokkaido-Running-Together.jpg)
Small dogs
only in parts of China
©Happy monkey/Shutterstock.com
In China, specifically in Beijing and Shanghai, there are limits so that a household can only have one dog. Additionally, the dog isn’t allowed to be taller than 14 inches in Beijing.
2. Don’t Wake a Sleeping Bear
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/animals/images/original/brown_bear3.jpg)
If a bear is sleeping, leave it alone
©Millie Bond - Copyright A-Z Animals
To protect hibernating bears, Alaska, United States has enacted a law saying it’s illegal to wake bears for a photo. However, it’s still alright to hunt them.
3. Social Animals
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2023/06/shutterstock-1535885399-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg)
Social animals should always be bought with a buddy,
©Charles Bergman/Shutterstock.com
In Switzerland, social animals like rabbits, parakeets, rats, and guinea pigs, are not allowed to be owned alone. All of them need at least one companion.
4. No Goldfish
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2022/05/petfish.jpg)
Goldfish deserve rights too.
©LUIS PADILLA-Fotografia/Shutterstock.com
In 2005, Rome passed a law that made it illegal to give away goldfish as prizes or to keep them in bowls, as it is considered cruel.
5. Ferret Hunting Companions
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2022/10/shutterstock_99879407.jpg)
Ferrets can’t be hunting companions in West Virginia.
©Liliana_Cantu/Shutterstock.com
In West Virginia, United States using a ferret to hunt wild birds is a misdemeanor. It doesn’t specify about using them to hunt other animals.
6. No Drunk Riding
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2024/05/shutterstock-1028709061-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
Like with cars, you need to be sober before riding or controlling any animal.
©PK Studio/Shutterstock.com
In the UK, it’s illegal to ride or be in charge of horses, cattle, and other animals while intoxicated. Probably smart.
7. Dog Rights
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2024/05/shutterstock-275863976-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
Sweden has many laws for protecting dogs, including regular walks.
©a katz/Shutterstock.com
In Sweden, dogs have a lot of rights. They must be taken on a walk at least every six hours, and if they’re inside, they need access to a window that has sunlight coming through.
8. Dog Walks
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2023/07/shutterstock-2072417276-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg)
Dogs need at least three walks a day.
©Oleg Elkov/Shutterstock.com
In a similar vein, dog owners in Turin, Italy must walk their dogs at least three times a day or face a hefty fine.
9. Sheep Distractions
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2023/08/GettyImages-1339877912.jpg)
Sheep can cause some problems.
©Eric Clark/ via Getty Images
In Montana, it’s illegal to have a sheep in your truck cab without a chaperone to prevent the driver from getting distracted.
10. Don’t Be Annoying
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2023/09/shutterstock-2270858235-huge-licensed-scaled.jpg)
Excessive barking or annoying behaviors can get your pets in trouble.
©Shchus/Shutterstock.com
In Scotland, if your pet is out in public, they can’t annoy any other people in said public space, so be careful with your energetic and loud pets.
11. Control Your Pet’s Urges
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2022/04/Two-fearful-dogs-hiding.jpg)
Your dog better be on its best behavior around the royal family.
©smrm1977/Shutterstock.com
In the UK, there’s a law saying that you and your dog can be in a lot of trouble if they mate with a royal canine.
12. No Neutering
![Surgically sterilizing a cat](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2022/06/sterilization-of-cat-picture-id95710251-1024x614.jpg)
It’s considered a cruel surgery.
©iStock.com/DimaBerkut
In Norway, it’s prohibited to spay or neuter your dog unless there’s a medical condition.
13. No Funny Faces
![Owner plays with his dog, making him smiling](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2024/01/GettyImages-918159324-1024x683.jpg)
Your dog can make faces, but you can’t.
©DeRepente/iStock via Getty Images
In Oklahoma, United States, you can get into trouble for making ugly faces at a dog as it could annoy the dog enough to bite you.
14. Pigsty Problems
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2022/09/iStock-508628214.jpg)
Pigs can be very loud animals.
©iStock.com/Grigorev_Vladimir
As part of the Town Police Clauses Act in 1847, it’s illegal in the UK to have a pigsty in the front of your home as it’s considered a nuisance.
15. Moose Flights
![moose standing in field of sagebrush in Idaho](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2024/03/shutterstock-1141430216-huge-licensed-scaled-1024x819.jpg)
Be nice to moose in airplanes.
©Justin Crook Photography/Shutterstock.com
In Alaska, there’s a law that prevents people from pushing moose out of airplanes.
16. Dyed Ducks
![Blue rubber bath duck isolated on the blue background](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2024/05/shutterstock-352464758-huge-licensed-scaled-1024x680.jpg)
This law was to help stop selling ducks for entertainment purposes.
©Audrius Merfeldas/Shutterstock.com
In Kentucky, you cannot dye ducklings blue with the intent to sell them.
17. Whale Fishing
![](https://a-z-animals.com/media/humpback-whale-2.jpg)
No whale fishing in Ohio, law or not.
©Paul S. Wolf/Shutterstock.com
In one state, it’s illegal to whale on Sundays. What’s weird about this law? It’s in Ohio, a state not connected to the ocean.
18. Save Sasquatch
![sasquatch silohuette](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2022/06/sasquatch-1024x614.jpg)
Bigfoot has protections in Washington.
©Jean Faucett/Shutterstock.com
In Skamania County in Washington, it’s illegal to hunt, harm, or harass the creature(s) known as Bigfoot and Sasquatch
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.