Bearded dragons are legal in Arizona. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene The state issues non-commercial wildlife breeding licenses and commercial wildlife farming licenses. However, exotic cats are exempt from non-commercial breeding, commercial wildlife breeder and import permits. Native bears or cats weighing more than 50 pounds (black bear and puma) can only be kept under a commercial breeding licence, as they are prohibited as pets. An import permit is required for the importation of bobcats or cougars into the state. Construction and inspection of the cage is required before the permit for bobcats or puma is granted. Requires the licensee to follow the general care guidelines of the AWA. The licence fee is $48.00 for a business licence and $5.00 for a personal possession licence. Cougar issuance requires either a resident cat/bear exhibitor permit or a temporary non-resident cat/bear exhibitor license. Valid from 14.05.2013 In addition to the liability of the owners of a member of the felid family in the event of death or injury of livestock, the owners are now also liable for damages caused, including legal fees and legal costs. Serval and savannah cats are legal in Oklahoma, as is hunting bobcats.
Commercial activities are required for a USDA license, so a person who wants to have a big cat as a pet is forced to bring the cat to the outdoor show or breed and sell cubs to circumvent laws against big cats as “pets.” While the requirement is likely well-intentioned, it has created more opportunities for injury and death than it has cured. The USDA Animal Welfare Act regulates the use of animals in trade. Commercial activity is a prerequisite for licensing. If there is no commercial activity (i.e. the animal is just a pet), you are not eligible for the animal welfare program and to obtain a license from the USDA. The USDA issues licenses to pet stores that own or possess these animals. The licence is issued to an individual. There are three classes of USDA licenses – A, B, and C. For the possession of feral cats, each class of licence requires the licence holder to submit a letter indicating that they have sufficient knowledge of the breeding of the species they own. Class A license In the case of feral cats, a USDA Class A license is required if the person is involved in the sale of offspring produced by the person`s cats.
If the person raises their adult animals but does not sell the offspring, they are not eligible for a USDA Class A license. (no commercial activity) Class A licence holders cannot trade in animals, but only sell their offspring. A Class A permit for feral cats requires a cage that allows the animal to stand up and turn around, and a fence within 3 feet of the cage. Enclosures for cats defined as dangerous (especially lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, mountain lions, cheetahs) must be eight feet high. Cages for small cats should be surrounded by a six-foot fence. In the case of multiple animal collections, a single fence often surrounds all animal cages. There is no definition of how this fence should be built. Class B License A USDA Class B permit is required if the person sells feral cats that have not been raised by the licensee`s adult animals. That is, they mediate other people`s animals – buy and sell adults or children that are not part of the licensee`s long-term collection. Category B licence holders may hold limited, controlled displays as necessary to facilitate the sale of newly acquired offspring or animals.
When exhibiting animals, the licensee shall be responsible for physically preventing direct contact between visitors and the animals and their cages. This type of exposure cannot constitute an essential part of the licensee`s business activity. The Class B licence for feral cats requires good cage support and a fence not exceeding 3 feet from the cage. In the case of multiple animal collections, a single fence often surrounds all animal cages. Class C License USDA Class C licenses are commonly referred to as issuer licenses. Holders of a category C driving licence may make their animals available to the public. It`s the same license that all zoos have. All exhibitors, whether municipal zoos or private zoos and street menageries, circuses, or self-proclaimed educators who bring animals off-site, must adhere to the same USDA guidelines and minimum standards. USDA Class C facilities can raise and sell offspring, they can provide offspring raised by others, and they can exhibit animals, although the primary activity of a Class C licensee must be the display of animals. Examples of this can be found in zoos: 1. they are open to the public (exhibition), 2.
produce and sell baby animals (breeders), 3. They trade animals to other zoos and often sell animals for various reasons after owning them only for a short time (brokers). Every year, the public wants to see babies, so all babies from last year have to be disposed of. Since all zoos breed to meet public demand for babies, offspring from other zoos are rarely sought, so they end up in the hands of backyard breeders and in canned hunts. The USDA`s minimum requirements for owning feral cat enclosures that allow the public to see their animals on a regular basis must have these three elements. 1. A cage large enough for the animal to get up and turn around. 2. A barrier that can only be a rope. 3.
A fence without substance or special force. The Animal Welfare Act is enforced by 90 inspectors who inspect more than 10,000 licence holders who breed, sell and display wildlife. For more information about USDA licensing and animal welfare law, visit the USDA Animal Care website at www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/. The USDA was originally created to regulate agriculture and the “use” of animals. Big Cat Rescue does not believe that exotic cats should be “used”, and having the monitoring of exotic cats in the hands of those who have such an archaic view of animals as stupid creatures who do not deserve our compassion and respect is a farce. Bobbcats and lynx are listed as fur carriers. The state issues a permit to breed fur-bearing animals, but makes an exception. If an animal is not bred for its fur or body parts, no permit is required. Importing feral cats into the state requires an import permit. Exotic wild animals are divided into prohibited, controlled and uncontrolled animals. Servals and jungle cats are not controlled and can be owned and sold as pets without permission. All other cats are automatically prohibited and limited to a zoo or street menagerie permit, AZA facility, USDA Class C transmitter for less than 90 days, college, university or government agency for scientific or public health research, scientific institution, to a USDA nonprofit organization that exhibits wildlife for educational or scientific purposes, to a service animal, and to one with the rescue facility associated with state authority.
Exotic wild animals are divided into prohibited, controlled and uncontrolled animals. Servals and jungle cats are not controlled and can be owned and sold as pets without permission. The roadside menagerie is used to display or use wild animals to attract trade. Must keep detailed records of acquisition, birth, death and transmission. There are also regulations on breeding, feeding, treatment and care. Roadside menagerie permits require proof of liability insurance for bodily injury up to $25,000 per person to a maximum of $100,000 for each event, as well as for property damage up to a maximum of $5,000 per occurrence.