Dyed chicks, carrier pigeons, painted horses, wrestling bears and the rules people wrote about them.
Our overview
Animal laws make up the biggest group on this site, and they fall into a few patterns. Several protect young or vulnerable animals from being treated as toys: Ohio bans dyeing rabbits and baby poultry, and North Carolina bans selling baby chicks, ducklings and young rabbits as pets or novelties, with a proviso for nondomesticated species and for brooder-facility sales for other purposes.
Others deal with fair play and property. Vermont treats a painted or disguised horse at the fair as fraud, North Carolina makes bribing a horse show judge its own crime, and Ohio protects banded carrier pigeons from anyone who isn't the owner. A third group is about safety and health, from the fire pails Massachusetts requires in stables without sprinklers to the health certificate every bee needs to enter Alaska.
Written by Silly Rules from the quoted laws below. Not legal advice.
Alaska · AS 03.47.020
“All bees imported into the state shall be accompanied by a health certificate that states that the bees come from an apiary apparently free of bee diseases and that is signed by an apiary inspector determined to be qualified by the division.”
Alaska · AS 16.05.822
“The board may transplant surplus musk oxen from Nunivak Island to appropriate areas on the mainland of the state, when good management practices dictate the action.”
Arizona · A.R.S. § 13-2927
“A person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding, attracting or otherwise enticing wildlife into an area, except for:”
Florida · Fla. Stat. § 828.121
“It shall be unlawful, and punishable as a misdemeanor, for any person to conduct or engage in a simulated or bloodless bullfighting exhibition.”
Massachusetts · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 86D
“On every floor of a building not equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, where horses or mules are stabled, there shall be kept in accessible locations and filled at all times, four pails of water and one pail of sand, for …”
Missouri · RSMo 578.176
“A person commits the offense of bear wrestling if he or she:”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-363.1
“If any person, firm or corporation shall sell, or offer for sale, barter or give away as premiums living baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits under eight weeks of age as pets or novelties, such person, firm or …”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-380.1
“Any person who bribes, or offers to bribe, any judge or other official in any horse show, with intent to influence his decision or judgment concerning said horse show, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-380.4
“The provisions of this Article shall be printed on all schedules for any horse show held prior to January 1, 1965.”
Ohio · Ohio Rev. Code 925.62
“No person, firm, or corporation shall dye or otherwise color any rabbit or baby poultry, including, but not limited to, chicks and ducklings.”
Ohio · Ohio Rev. Code 959.18
“No person who is not the owner thereof, shall shoot, kill, or maim an Antwerp or homing pigeon, commonly known as "carrier" pigeon, nor shall such person entrap, catch, or detain a carrier pigeon, provided it has the name of the …”
Vermont · 13 V.S.A. § 2013
“A person who knowingly and designedly for the purpose of competing for a purse or premium offered by an agricultural society, corporation, or association within the State, enters or drives a horse or horse kind painted or …”
Florida · Fla. Stat. § 828.121, “Conduct of simulated bullfighting exhibitions”
“It shall be unlawful, and punishable as a misdemeanor, for any person to conduct or engage in a simulated or bloodless bullfighting exhibition.”
Our reading
In Florida, conducting or even taking part in a simulated or bloodless bullfighting exhibition is a misdemeanor.
Every quote on this site was matched against its official page on October 14, 2026. Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.