Local (mainly municipal) policy action for animal protection

There are several instances in which municipal action is not necessary as statewide policies have already been enacted
  1. California has a ban on sale of foie gras within the state
  2. California has a statewide ban on most uses of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs)
  3. California and Maine both have a statewide ban on the retail sale of cats and dogs
  4. California has a statewide ban on the sale of fur
  5. California prohibits the use of any animal other than domestic dogs, domestic cats, or domesticated horses in circuses.
  6. Colorado's "Traveling Animal Protection Act" bans the use of many types of animals, including wild cats, marsupials, nonhuman primates, elephants, and seals, in traveling animal acts.
  7. Connecticut law prohibits the use of certain animals in circuses and traveling shows.
  8. Hawaii prohibits the importation of dangerous wild animals for exhibition in circuses, carnivals, or other live animal acts or performances.
  9. Illinois has statewide ban of elephants in traveling shows
  10. Maryland prohibits the participation of certain animals like bears, big cats, elephants, and nonhuman primates in traveling acts.
  11. Massachusetts bans the use of several species of wild animals, including elephants, big cats, nonhuman primates, bears, and giraffes, in traveling shows.
  12. Mississippi has statewide ban on temporary exhibits allowing public contact with most wild animals
  13. New Jersey has a statewide ban on the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling shows
  14. New York has a statewide ban on the use of elephants in entertainment acts and a ban of public contact with big cats
  15. New York has a statewide ban on the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores (effective late 2023)
  16. Rhode Island has statewide a ban on the use of bullhooks or similar pain inflicting devices on elephants
  17. Hawaii has a statewide ban on importing dangerous wild animals for circuses or carnivals
This table includes all U.S. cities with population greater than 100,000, plus additional locations where we are aware of municipal action. Note each column can be sorted by selecting the up and down arrows to the right of the column label.


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