The 18 Weirdest Laws About Animals Throughout the World

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Norway, it’s prohibited to spay or neuter your dog unless there’s a medical condition.

13. No Funny Faces

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

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

In Alaska, there’s a law that prevents people from pushing moose out of airplanes.

16. Dyed Ducks

In Kentucky, you cannot dye ducklings blue with the intent to sell them.

17. Whale Fishing

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

In Skamania County in Washington, it’s illegal to hunt, harm, or harass the creature(s) known as Bigfoot and Sasquatch