SUPPORT: Criminal Law – Non-domesticated Animal Prohibitions – Alterations – HB 53.
Zebras, Kangaroos, Wallaroos, and Wallabies Should Not Be Pets!
This bill would expand the list of wild animals prohibited for private ownership in Maryland to include zebras, kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies. It would alter a certain exception to the prohibition against importing, offering for sale, trading, bartering, possessing, breeding, or exchanging certain live, non-domesticated animals and repealing a certain other exception; prohibiting certain live non-domesticated animals from being imported, offered for sale, traded, bartered, possessed, bred, or exchanged on or after a certain date, subject to a certain exception; and generally relating to the prohibition against the importation, sale, trade, barter, possession, breeding, or exchange of certain non-domesticated animals.
Currently, Maryland law already prohibits private ownership of bears, nonhuman primates, wild cats, and certain venomous snakes. HB 53 would simply add zebras, kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies to that list to address public safety and animal welfare concerns. This is an issue of protecting the public from injury or even death from an encounter with these wild animals.
Zebras have repeatedly escaped from private owners and licensed exhibitors and breeders, including multiple zebras from an Upper Marlboro, Maryland farm in 2021, requiring response from law enforcement and expenditure of public resources. It took four years to capture those zebras, who roamed freely through residential neighborhoods. Kangaroos and wallabies are readily available for sale online – and escapes are on the rise.
Zebras are strong, muscular animals with unpredictable behavior, including biting and kicking that can cause serious internal injuries. Kangaroos can exceed 6 feet in height and weigh up to 200 lbs. Wallabies can reach 3 feet tall and weigh 30 – 60 lbs. Both species can inflict serious injuries through powerful kicks and sharp claws.
Expanding Maryland’s law banning private ownership of wild animals to include zebras, kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies will help law enforcement and protect communities. The Maryland Legislature has already banned private ownership of many wild animals in the interest of public safety. This bill would simply add these animals to MD Criminal Code §10-621.
Protect Marylanders: Prohibit Private Ownership of Zebras, Kangaroos, Wallaroos, and Wallabies.
Zebras, Kangaroos, Wallaroos, and Wallabies Should Not Be Pets!
Please contact your legislators and ask them to SUPPORT HB 53!
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With compassion,
Maryland Votes for Animals, Inc.