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One Response to 'What animals are you allowed to have as pets in Massachusetts?'

1. princessn1984 - January 1st, 2009 at 7:43 pm

   You can have most fish, unless they are classified as “rare”, same with amphibians, you can all turtles except the Aregentine (Chaco) Tortoise, Gopher Tortoise (and related species), and the Pancake Tortoise. As far as snakes, all species of boas and pythons except rare species and the emerald tree boa, green tree python, African Rock Python, Reticulated Python, and all Anacondas; Black Rat Snake, and all venemous snakes are illegal. Crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gavials are all illegal. All skinks, false club-tailed lizards, girdle-tailed lizards, plated lizards, and rock lizards, most teiid lizards, some lacertid lizards and lateral-fold lizards, all geckos except rare species and the big bend gecko, basilisks, collared and leopard lizards, green iguanas, false iguanas, new world chameleons, spiny lizards, tree and bush lizards, water dragons, and most night lizards are lawful. Florida sand skinks, Solomon Islands Ground Skink, Chameleons, Monitor Lizards, Gila Monster and Beaded Lizard are illegal. The following birds are legal: Blue, Button, or Coturnix Quail, Pigeons and Doves, Waxbills & related species, finches & related species, weaver finches (except the red billed dioch and related species), parrots & related species, toucans, aracaris, toucanets, starlings, mynahs (except the rose-colored starling). Any migratory birds found in the US or Canada and any other native bird to the US or canada, and rare species are illegal. Permits may be issued for some water fowl and game birds. The following mammals are legal, four-toed hedgehog, chinchilla, deer mouse, white-footed mouse, degu, egyptian spiny mouse, house mouse, jerboas, norway rat, paca, southern flying squirrel, and stripped hamster. All other mammals not listed as domestic (see below) are illegal. The following are dometic and LEGAL: domestic geese, ducks, and muscovy, captive-reared mallards, common coturnix or coturnix quail, domestic chicken, peafowl, domestic guineafowl, domestic turkey, common pigeon or rock dove, domestic dog, mink, domestic ferrets (must be neutered or spayed), domestic cat (including pixie bob & bengal cat), domestic ass, domestic horse, domestic swine, llama, alpaca, dromedary camel, domestic water buffalo, domestic cow, domestic yak, zebu cattle, domestic goats and sheep, domestic hamster, guinea pig, mongolian gerbil, laboratory rat and mouse, domestic rabbit (not including so called “San Juan rabbits”, Wolf-dog hybrids or other hybrids between domestic dogs and any wild canine species, or any feline animal which is a hybrid between a domestic cat and any wild feline species, are not domestic animals and may not be maintained, propagated, imported, bought, sold, or otherwise possessed in Massachusetts unless the animal was in the owner’s possession on or before January 1, 1994, and registered with MassWildlife no later than July 31, 1994 (M.G.L. Ch. 131, § 77A) Certain recognized breeds of show or pet cats, which are known to be or reputed to be of hybrid origin, are considered to be domestic and may be lawfully possessed.

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