Baby Animals Law and Legal Definition
The sale of some baby animals is prohibited under certain state laws. State laws and the animals they regulate vary. While some states may ban the sale of certain baby animals, other states impose restrictions on their sale, such as minimum age requirements. For example, dollar turtles used to be sold in the United States, until they were associated with Salmonellosis in small children. Many reptiles carry some salmonella. (Salmonella is also common in raw poultry and raw eggs.) Some children would put the turtles in their mouth, and a number became sick. After 1970, when the Food and Drug Administration prohibited the distribution and sale of baby turtles with shells four inches in length or less, reptile-associated Salmonellosis decreased dramatically. The federal law only prohibited commercial sales in the U.S., sales for educational and other purposes, or sales outside the U.S. were not prohibited.
The following are examples of a state laws regulating the sale of baby animals:
- "It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to display, sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any baby rabbits, or baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl, but not including parrots, parakeets and canaries, as pets or novelties, regardless of whether or not such rabbits or fowl are dyed, colored or otherwise artificially treated.
- Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as prescribed by law."
- 6.04.380 Baby animals—Sale restrictions.
- No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any rabbits, baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl unless such person provides proper brooder facilities for the care of such baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl during the time they are in the possession of such person.
- 6.04.390 Baby animals—Minimum age for sale.
- No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any rabbits, baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl under four weeks of age in any quantity less than six.
