Keeping a dangerous wild animal
It is against the law in Missouri to keep certain wild animals — like lions, tigers, bears, wolves, apes, venomous reptiles, or large snakes over eight feet long — at home or in a private place. The only legal places to keep these animals are zoos, circuses, research labs, vet hospitals, schools, or animal refuges. Someone who keeps one of these animals outside those places must register the animal with the local sheriff or police in that county. Breaking this law is a class C misdemeanor.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
578.023. Keeping a dangerous wild animal — . — 1. A person commits the of keeping a dangerous wild animal if he or she keeps any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, Canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, hyena, wolf, bear, , coyote, any deadly, dangerous, or poisonous reptile, or any deadly or dangerous reptile over eight feet long, in any place other than a properly maintained , circus, scientific, or educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital, or , unless he or she has such animals with the local in the county in which the animal is kept.
2. The offense of keeping a dangerous wild animal is a .
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Source & history notes
(L. 1983 S.B. 211 § 9, A.L. 2001 S.B. 462, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.