Absurd animal laws in different countries

Countries around the world sometimes pass strange and amusing laws regarding domestic and wild animals. The absurdity of some of these laws never ceases to amaze people, as they are not passed without reason—it means something happened that prompted the need for some kind of restriction. We'll discuss some of them in our article.

Ridiculous Cat Laws

In Cresskill, New Jersey, there's a curious law regarding felines: they must be tethered to three bells. If a cat wants to hunt a bird, the prey must be warned by the ringing of the bell. The origin of this law and any precedent is unknown.

Another example: in Dalat, Minnesota, cats are prohibited from sleeping in stores that sell baked goods. This is more understandable—most likely due to hygiene concerns.

In Ohio, cats are not prohibited from running for president because the law does not stipulate that a candidate must be human. Under this interpretation, it seems likely that any other animal could also run for president.

In Reed City, Michigan, the law discourages cats and dogs from living in the same house, while in Switzerland, on the contrary, cats must have a friend - another pet, maybe even a dog, to keep them from getting bored.

In the Australian city of Parramatta, it's illegal to throw a bag containing a cat or dog into water. However, drowning cats and dogs in separate bags is not illegal.

Funny Dog Laws

Many cities and countries have amusing laws related to dogs. For example, in Canada, dogs are not allowed to walk in Nike clothing. Perhaps this law was lobbied by representatives of a competing company, such as Adidas.

In Oklahoma, USA, people are not allowed to eat from a dog's bowl, no matter how tempted they are. In Argentina, people are allowed to bark at dogs in response to their displeasure, but they are not allowed to bite. In Minnesota, people are not allowed to bare their teeth at dogs, and in Romania, you cannot yell at a dog, even if it's chasing you. In Denmark, it's generally forbidden to scold dogs for relieving themselves in the house, as this is considered good luck.

In Anchorage, Alaska, there's a curious ban: you can't walk your dog tied to a car roof rack—you could be fined. Meanwhile, in Turin, Italy, dog owners are required to walk their pets at least three times a day or face a hefty fine.

In Norway, dogs are prohibited by law from barking 44 times in a row, as barking is a public nuisance and can also be considered dangerous to society. Who would be counting the number of barks is anyone's guess. In South Carolina, a police officer can bite a dog to stop it from barking.

Strange Livestock Laws

An absurd, yet effective, law regarding livestock exists in France: it's illegal to name a pig after Emperor Napoleon. This is a testament to the respect shown to the emperor, who is seen in France not simply as a military leader and conqueror, but above all as a brilliant statesman who brought about profound social change.

Other examples of funny pet laws:

1. In the state of Georgia, chickens are prohibited from wandering on roadways.
2. In the state of Illinois, it is illegal to hit rodents with baseball bats.
3. In Idaho, it is not allowed to sit on a camel and fish.
4. In Boise, you could face legal trouble if you decide to fish while riding a giraffe.
5. In England, it is illegal to drive a cow while intoxicated.
6. In Minnesota, it's illegal to drive across state lines with a duck on your head.
7. In South Dakota, horses are required to wear pants while on the property of the Fountain Inn or face legal trouble.

Absurd Wildlife Laws

There are also a number of laws regarding wild animals. Here are some of them:

1. In Alaska, it is illegal to disturb sleeping bears to take photographs, and it is also illegal to view moose from an airplane or to throw deer or moose from an aircraft.
2. In the city of Fairbanks, it is prohibited to feed strong liquor to moose.
3. In the city of Hayden, you face a hefty fine if you are caught in contact with frogs.
4. In Arkansas, it is illegal to keep an alligator in your bathtub.
5. In San Francisco, feeding pigeons is prohibited, as they are responsible for the spread of disease and property damage. If you are caught doing this illegal activity, you will be fined, and the person who reports it will receive a reward.
6. In India, it is not considered normal to talk to elephants about politics.
7. In China, you can't marry a fish.
8. In Africa, it is forbidden to talk to a kangaroo about your family problems and concerns.
9. In Pennsylvania, fishing with your mouth is not recommended.
10. In California, it is illegal to lick toads and frogs - this is also punishable by a fine.