Obviously, humans are the subject to nature, but perhaps you didn’t know that the reverse is true as well, or at least according to our law books. Several states have legal statutes making it illegal for animals to do certain things (or by extension, for animals’ owners to allow them to do those things).
Here are just a few wacky legal statutes attempting to control the behavior of animals that our own law research was able to dig up.
It’s Illegal For Llamas to Graze on City Property.
Believe it or not, Colorado has a legal statute stating that if a person owns, possess, or controls a llama, cow, goat, sheep, pig, horse, mule, or burro, they must not allow the animal to graze, pasture, or run on any city property. Most amusing about this legal statute, perhaps, is the fact that animals are allowed to do that if their owners have permits.
It’s Illegal For Horses to Enter the Fountain Inn Without Pants On.
In South Dakota, it’s illegal for horses to enter the Fountain Inn without pants on. As silly as that is, it’s interesting to think that horses actually are allowed in to the inn if they are wearing pants, though.
It’s Illegal to Harass Big Foot.
If you find Big Foot in Washington, you’d be better off just leaving him (or her) alone. According to the Evergreen State’s legal statute, the harassing of Big Foot, Sasquatch, or other undiscovered subspecies is a felony punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t try snapping a photo of Big Foot, just so long as don’t act like a Hollywood paparazzi, that is.
If your own legislative history research pulled up any odd legal statutes that seemed to be without any semblance of legislative intent, feel free to share them in the comments. Read more like this.