Results
| Title |
Author |
Citation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview of Laws Restricting the Age of Puppies for Sale | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This overview discusses state laws that place restrictions on the sale of young puppies. Approximately 15 states have enacted laws or administrative regulations that generally require puppies to be between 6 and 8 weeks prior to being offered for sale. |
| Detailed Discussion of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Law Legal and Historical Center |
This article explores the history and text of the BGEPA. It further examines the relevant legal issues spawned by the Act, including free exercise challenges by Native Americans, the abrogation of treaty rights, commerce in eagle parts, and requisite intent for criminal prosecution under the Act. |
| FAQ: Dogs in Restaurants | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center | This FAQ explores what states have laws concerning dogs in outdoor dining area of restaurants. As of 2023, 23 states have laws or administrative regulations that allow patrons to bring pet dogs to outdoor dining spaces in restaurants. Some laws require that the local unit of government first enact an ordinance allowing the activity. |
| 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 The agency stated that the withdrawn guidance "should not be enforced or otherwise relied upon by the Department or stakeholders" and has removed these documents from the HUD.gov website.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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Overview of State Cruelty Laws | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center |
This summary describes some of the basic features of state cruelty laws with links to further discussions. |
| Detailed Discussion of Montana Great Ape Laws | Rebecca F. Wisch | Animal Legal & Historical Center | The following article discusses Great Apes law in Montana. Mississippi law directly regulates Great Apes by a law that bans the importation and possession of certain wild animals deemed "inherently dangerous." In addition, the state also addresses Great Apes in its general anti-cruelty law as well as its endangered species provisions. While the state of Montana controls possession and importation of “exotic wildlife” by law, great apes are not specifically identified or addressed. Instead, Montana regulates the possession of great apes by administrative regulation and reference to the federal endangered species list. In the regulations, great apes are specifically defined as a "prohibited species " meaning they “may not be possessed, sold, purchased, exchanged, or transported in Montana, except as provided. . .”. In addition, Montana law addresses the commercial use of great apes in what it terms, “roadside menageries,” where animals are kept in captivity for the purpose of exhibition or attracting trade. Like other states, Montana does not define Great Apes as "endangered," either under its own endangered species law or accompanying regulation. It does, however, cover them by reference to federal law. Finally, great apes are covered under the state’s anti-cruelty law. However, the law contains a number of exempt categories including scientific research and teaching. |