Results
| Title |
Author |
Citation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 The agency stated that the withdrawn guidance "should not be enforced or otherwise relied upon by the Department or stakeholders" and has removed these documents from the HUD.gov website.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. |
| Overview of States that Prohibit BSL | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center | This document lists the states that prohibit the regulation of dogs by local governments based on breed, commonly known as breed-specific legislation. The laws are divided into two general categories: (1) states that prohibit breed-specific legislation (BSL) in all animal regulation (10 states); and (2) states that prohibit BSL in dangerous/vicious dog laws (16 states). In total, there are approximately 22 states with some sort of anti-BSL legislation (combining both (1) and (2) together, and not counting DE, IL, and VA twice because they have both such laws). The pertinent part of the legislation is included in this list as well as a link to the actual laws. A further distinction has to be made in the application of some of these laws in the dangerous dog category. Some laws state that municipalities may not regulate dangerous dogs based solely on breed while other laws simply say that breed cannot be used to prove a dangerous dog declaration. |
| 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). |
| FAQ: Can I sell an old fur made from an endangered animal? | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
Dear Animal Legal & Historical Center, |
| Sale of Companion Animals by Breeders and Retailers | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This article explores the remedies available to purchasers of diseased or otherwise unfit cats and dogs. The relevant state statutes are discussed as well as general contract principles under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code. |
| FAQ: Dogs Transported in Pickup Truck Beds | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center | This FAQ explores the few states that address dogs or other animals riding unsecured in the back of pickup trucks. |
| Pet Sale Cases | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This outline provides links to the cases that relate to the sale of companion animals. While not an exhaustive list, it does provide a sampling of the case law in the area. |
| Overview of Companion Animal Sales | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This overview provides the answer to the question of what a purchaser of an ill dog or defective dog can do. Included is a summary of contract law affecting pet sales, the relevant provisions under the UCC's sale of goods, and state pet purchaser protection laws. |