Results
| Title |
Author |
Citation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This overview of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act provides annotations that link into a more detailed legal discussion of the Act. The summary reviews the historical underpinnings behind the passage of the Act and an examination of the major amendments to the original Act. Finally, the legal issues and controversies spawned by challenges to the Act are briefly summarized. |
| Emotional Assistance Animals in Rental Housing: A How-to Guide | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This article provides some general information on how to seek help when a person needs an emotional support animal to function in daily life and a landlord enforces a "no pets" policy. |
| Detailed Discussion of West Virginia Great Ape Laws | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center | The following article discusses West Virginia Great Ape law. West Virginia has no law that restricts or otherwise mentions great apes. In fact, West Virginia does not even have a state endangered species provision providing additional state protection for endangered or threatened species. The only law to address great apes because it covers all animals is the state’s anti-cruelty provision. The law does except the humane use of animals or activities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act, and the law’s accompanying regulations. This would include scientific research and animal exhibitors licensed under the Animal Welfare Act. |
| How to Search for Your Municipality's Animal-Related Ordinances | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This document briefly explains how one may search for electronic versions of his or her municipality's animal control ordinances over the Interent. |
| Overview of Municipal Animal Control Ordinances | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This overview discusses the power of municipalities to enact ordinances. It then highlights some common subjects for animal care and control within municipal codes. |
| Detailed Discussion of State Dog Impound Laws | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This paper explores state and municipal dog impound laws, focusing specifically on loose dog laws, dogs chasing livestock laws, and public health laws. In doing so, the paper examines grants of police power to seize and destroy dog and what due process requirements constrain these state actions. |
| Detailed Discussion of Wisconsin Great Ape Laws | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center | The following article discusses Wisconsin Great Ape law. Wisconsin does not have a specific law that prohibits the possession of apes or otherwise addresses their care. The state has a chapter on captive wildlife with a number of provisions related to the possession of captive live wild animals, which would generally include great apes.The state’s endangered species law also prohibits the taking, transport, and possession of endangered or threatened species, including federally-listed species. It is unclear based on a reading of the law whether it requires state permits for foreign endangered species. The law specifically exempts zoological societies or municipal zoos from its reach. Finally, apes are covered generally under the state’s anti-cruelty laws as warm-blooded, non-human animals. The law prohibits treating animals in a cruel manner, which includes causing unnecessary and excessive pain, suffering, or unjustifiable death. Additionally, all animals kept in captivity must have adequate food, water, and shelter. |
| FAQs on Emotional Support Animals | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center | On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formally withdrew two key guidance documents that housing providers relied upon to evaluate requests for service and assistance animals. These documents were FHEO Notice 2013-01 ("Service Animals and Assistance Animals for People with Disabilities in Housing") and FHEO Notice 2020-01 ("Assessing a Person's Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act"). According to HUD's memorandum, the withdrawal was part of a deregulatory initiative aimed at reducing compliance burdens and ensuring that guidance does not exceed what federal statutes actually require. The agency stated that the withdrawn guidance "should not be enforced or otherwise relied upon by the Department or stakeholders" and has removed these documents from the HUD.gov website. This Q and A part of this document are for historical purposes only and do not reflect current federal interpretation of federal law. |
| Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) Table of Related Cases | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This table provides links to cases involving BSL (breed-specific legislation). |
| Overview of Pet Number Restrictions in Municipal Ordinances | Rebecca F. Wisch | Michigan State University College of Law |
This legal discussion overviews the typical elements in municipal ordinances that restrict the number of pets a person can own. It analyzes the relevant cases and provides examples ordinances that limit the number of dogs a person can own. Both nuisance regulations and zoning regulations are discussed, as well as the broad police powers municipalities enjoy. |