Although pedigree may refer to a person's ancestral lineage, in a legal sense, it usually refers to a list of the ancestors of a purebred animal. A purebred animal is one that conforms to the standards of a certain breed and whose lineage, or pedigree, has been recorded for a certain period of time.
The following is an example of a state statute regulating pedigrees:
"Any person who, by false pretense, shall obtain from any club, association, society or company for improving the breed of cattle, horses, sheep, swine or other domestic animals a certificate of registration of any animal in the herd registered or other register of any such club, association, society or company or a transfer of any such registration and every person who shall knowingly give a false pedigree of any animal shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."
