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Statute Name
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Citation
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Summary
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AR - Assistance Animal - Arkansas Assistance Animal/Guide Dog Laws
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AR ST § 20-14-301 to 308
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The following statute comprises the state's relevant assistance animal and guide dog law.
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AR - Breed - Wolf-Hybrid - Wolf-Hybrid Vaccination
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AR ST § 20-19-406
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This Arkansas statute outlines the procedure for vaccination of wolf-hybrid dogs, including procedures for handling bites by these canines.
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AR - Cruelty - Consolidated Cruelty/Animal Fighting Laws
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AR ST § 5-62-101 -126; 5-14-122
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This section contains the Arkansas anti-cruelty and animal fighting provisions. A person commits a misdemeanor if he or she knowingly abandons any animal, subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment, fails to supply an animal in his or her custody with a sufficient quantity of wholesome food and water, fails to provide an animal in his or her custody with adequate shelter, kills or injures any animal belonging to another without legal privilege or consent of the owner, or carries an animal in or upon any motorized vehicle or boat in a cruel or inhumane manner. Aggravated cruelty to a cat, dog, or horse is a Class D felony if the offense involves the torture.
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AR - Dog - Consolidated Dog Laws
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AR ST §§ 20-19-101 to 408; § 2-40-110; § 2-39-110; § 15-41-113; § 15-42-303; § 5-54-126
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These Arkansas statutes comprise the state's dog laws. Among the provisions including licensing laws, rabies control, and mandatory sterilization laws. Also contained is the state's Wolf-Hybrid statutory section.
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AR - Domestic Violence - Chapter 15. Domestic Abuse
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AR ST § 9-15-205
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Upon a finding of domestic abuse, a court may "[d]irect the care, custody, or control of any pet owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by either party residing in the household" in an order for protection filed by a petitioner.
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AR - Ecoterrorism - Farm Animal and Research Facilities
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AR ST § 5-62-201 to 204
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This Arkansas subchapter concerns illegal acts committed against agricultural production and animal research facilities. Under the act, a person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person acquires or otherwise exercises control over an animal facility, an animal from an animal facility, or other property from an animal facility, with the intent to deprive the owner of the animal facility, animal, or property and disrupt or damage the enterprise conducted at the animal facility. Any person who violates any provision of this subchapter is deemed guilty of a Class D felony and will be ordered to pay replacement costs/restitution.
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AR - Ecoterrorism - Subchapter 2. Farm Animal and Research Facilities
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AR ST § 5-62-201 to 204
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This section of Arkansas laws constitutes the state's "ecoterrorism" laws. A person commits an offense if he or she exercises control over an animal facility, an animal from an animal facility, or other property from an animal facility with the intent to deprive the owner of the animal, or disrupt or damage the enterprise conducted at the facility. The section also makes it an offense if a person enters an animal enterprise without consent with the intent to damage or disrupt the facility by entering the facility after he or she had notice that entry was forbidden. Any person who violates any provision of this subchapter is deemed guilty of a Class D felony and is responsible for restitution defined by the act.
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AR - Endangered Species - Endangered, Threatened, and Nongame Species Preservation
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AR ST § 15-45-301 to 306
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Arkansas law provides that it is the intent of the State to protect rare, threatened, and endangered species. This policy also provides for the protection of critical habitat for these species.
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AR - Equine - Equine Activity Liability
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AR ST § 16-120-201 to 202
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This Arkansas statute provides that an equine activity sponsor, an employee of an equine activity sponsor, a livestock sponsor, an employee of a livestock sponsor, a livestock owner, a livestock facility, or a livestock auction market are not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of an equine activities activity or a livestock activity. Liability is not limited when the equine activity sponsor or an employee of an equine activity sponsor, a livestock sponsor, an employee of a livestock sponsor, a livestock owner, a livestock facility, or a livestock auction market knows or should know the equipment or tack is faulty, fails to make reasonable and prudent efforts to determine the ability of the participant, was aware of dangerous latent condition on the land, committs an act or omission that constitutes willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant, or when the participant is intentionally injured. Warning signs alerting participants to the assumption of risk in equine activities are also required by law.
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AR - Exotic Pets - Subchapter 4. Ownership and Breeding of Wolves and Wolf-Dog Hybrids
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AR ST § 20-19-401 to 408
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This chapter of Arkansas laws concerns the regulation of wolves and wolf-dog hybrids kept as companion animals. Under the law, a "wolf-dog hybrid” means any animal which is publicly acknowledged by its owner as being the offspring of a wolf and domestic dog; however, no animal may be judged to be a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid based strictly on its appearance. The specific rabies vaccination requirements for wolf-dog hybrids are detailed as well as confinement requirements (i.e, specific fence dimensions). If a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid bites a person or injures or destroys another animal while out of its confined area, the person responsible for the adequate confinement of the animal upon conviction shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (See also Link to Ownership and Possession of Large Carnivores Law)
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AR - Exotic Pets, Large Carnivores - Subchapter 5. Ownership and Possession of Large Carnivores
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AR ST § 20-19-501 to 511
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This Arkansas subchapter concerns the ownership and possession of large carnivores. Under the law, a large carnivore is defined as a bear, lion, or tiger. A person may possess a large carnivore only if he or she was in possession of the large carnivore on or before August 12, 2005 and the person applies for and is granted a permit for personal possession for each large carnivore not more than one hundred eighty (180) days after August 12, 2005. Except for these "grandfathered" possessors and other entities (zoos, USDA permittees, veterinary hospitals, etc.) it is illegal for anyone to own, possess, breed, or transfer ownership of a large carnivore. (See also Link to Wolf-Dog Hybrid Law (AR ST § 20-19-401 - 408)).
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AR - Hunting - Chapter 71. Riots, Disorderly Conduct,
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AR ST § 5-71-228
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This law comprises Arkansas' hunter harassment law. Under the law, it is unlawful for any person to willfully obstruct or impede the participation of any individual in the lawful activity of shooting, hunting, fishing, or trapping in this state. The section also allows a person to obtain an injunction based on a showing that the hunting/fishing/trapping conduct is threatened or that the obstructive conduct has occurred in the past and it is not unreasonable to expect it to be repeated. Further, a person adversely affected by the obstructive conduct may be awarded damages, including punitive damages. If a person violates this section and is in possession of a firearm, the person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; otherwise, violation is a Class B misdemeanor.
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AR - Hunting - Title 15. Natural Resources and Economic Development. Subtitle 4. Wildlife Resources (Chapters 40 to 54). Chapter 41. Administration and Enforcement of Wildlife Regulations. Subchapter 3. Arkansas Hunting Heritage Protection Act
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AR ST § 15-41-301 to 304
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This Arkansas statute affirms that hunting is an important recreational and economic activity in the state.
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AR - Ordinances - Regulation by suburban improvement district (dogs/cats).
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AR ST § 14-16-701
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This Arkansas statute provides that, upon the written request of the governing body of a suburban improvement district (as defined by statute), a county may by ordinance control and regulate dogs and cats within all or any part of the suburban improvement district. This statute does not elaborate on the confines of such ordinances, so it is assumed the subject matter is constrained only through preemption.
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AR - Ordinances - § 14-54-1102. Dogs running astray.
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AR ST § 14-54-1102
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This Arkansas statute provides that municipal corporations have the power to prevent the running at large of dogs and the injuries and annoyances associated with them. Further, this statute allows municipalities to authorize the destruction or impoundment of dogs if found in violation of ordinance. However, prior to destroying the dog, the municipality shall give the dog's owner at least five (5) days' notice of the date of the proposed destruction of the dog by certified mail if the dog carries the owner's address.
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AR - Pet Sales - Chapter 97. Retail Pet Stores.
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AR ST §§ 4-97-101 - 109
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This statutory section comprises the Arkansas Retail Pet Store Consumer Protection Act of 1991. The purpose of the act is to ensure that purchasers receive consumer animals that are physically and temperamentally sound, healthy, and fit as companions. The Act also provides a means by which the acquisition and care of those animals can be monitored.
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AR - Primates - Subchapter 6. Nonhuman Primates
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A.C.A. § 20-19-601 - 610
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This new 2013 Act prohibits the importing, possession, selling, or breeding of apes, baboons, and macques. It is unlawful under the act for a person to allow a member of the public to come into direct contact with a primate. Further, a person cannot tether a primate outdoors or allow a primate to run at-large. The section does not apply to accredited AZA institutions, AWA regulated research facilities, wildlife sanctuaries, temporary holding facilities, licensed veterinarians providing treatment, law enforcement officers, circuses holding AWA Class C licenses as provided, and those temporarily in the state. The act has a grandfathering provision that allows a person at least 18 years of age to continue to possess the restricted primate if within 180 days after the effective date of the act the person registers the animal per § 20-19-605 and follows other listed requirements.
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AR - Trusts - Trust for care of animal.
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AR ST § 28-73-408
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This statute represents Arkansas' pet trust law. The law provides that a trust may be created to provide for the care of an animal alive during the settlor's lifetime. The trust terminates upon the death of the animal or, if the trust was created to provide for the care of more than one animal alive during the settlor's lifetime, upon the death of the last surviving animal.
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AR - Veterinary - Veterinary Practice Code
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AR ST § 17-101-101 to 314
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These are the state's veterinary practice laws. Among the provisions include licensing requirements, laws concerning the state veterinary board, veterinary records laws, and the laws governing disciplinary actions for impaired or incompetent practitioners.
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