HB172 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Connie C. Rowe

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Animals, required rabies vaccines for canidae or felidae, further provided for, possession of certain canidae or felidae, possession of certain large felidae or wolves, prohibited under certain conditions, penalties, Sec. 3-8-2 added; Sec. 3-8-1 am'd.

Summary

HB172 tightens control over exotic canids and felids by requiring rabies vaccination, banning possession of large felidae and wolves with certain exceptions, and setting penalties, while allowing some pre-existing possessors to keep their animals under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

It requires vaccination for canidae and felidae that do not have USDA-licensed or FDA-approved rabies vaccines and allows current owners to keep such animals if they are spayed/neutered and registered. It adds a new provision making it illegal to possess, sell, transfer, or breed any living large felidae or wolf, with specified exceptions for certain exhibitors, research facilities, sanctuaries, nonprofit shelters, veterinary hospitals, and law enforcement. It also outlines strict criteria for people who lawfully possessed these animals before the act to keep them, including records, no new acquisitions, disaster planning, liability insurance, and notifying law enforcement before sale or relocation. The bill imposes a Class A misdemeanor for violations and notes that the local funding requirements of Amendment 621 are not triggered due to the bill creating or amending a crime. It becomes effective on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Owners of canidae or felidae lacking USDA-licensed or FDA-approved rabies vaccines (potentially illegal to own unless vaccinated or exempt).
• Current owners of such animals, who may be allowed to keep them only if they are spayed/neutered and registered with the Department of Agriculture and Industries.
• Owners of large felidae or wolves, who face a general ban on possession, sale, transfer, or breeding unless they meet specific exemptions.
• USDA Class C exhibitors (e.g., zoological parks, circuses) and other exempt facilities (research facilities, nonprofit wildlife sanctuaries, nonprofit animal protection organizations, veterinary hospitals, law enforcement) that may possess large felidae or wolves under certain conditions.
• Law enforcement agencies and veterinary professionals who may be involved in enforcement or treatment under the exemptions.
• Local governments, which are described as not needing local funding for new costs due to the bill's exemptions.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 3-8-1 to require that it be illegal to own, maintain, sell, or trade any canidae or felidae without a USDA-licensed or FDA-approved rabies vaccine; current owners may keep the animal if it is spayed/neutered and registered with the Department of Agriculture and Industries; exemptions apply to zoos, circuses, colleges/universities, animal refuges approved by the department, humane shelters, and veterinary clinics.
• Adds Section 3-8-2 defining LARGE FELIDAE (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, jaguar, cheetah, cougar, including hybrids) and WOLF (excluding hybrids).
• Prohibits possession, sale, transfer, or breeding of any living large felidae or wolf, unless exempted by subsection (c) or (d).
• Exemption criteria in subsection (c) include: Class C exhibitors with disaster plan and current inventory; research facilities; nonprofit wildlife sanctuaries meeting specific care and non-commercial criteria; nonprofit animal protection organizations temporarily housing a large felidae or wolf at law enforcement request; licensed veterinary hospitals; and law enforcement for enforcement purposes.
• Conditions for those who lawfully possessed a large felidae or wolf before the act: maintain records, have not acquired new animals since the effective date, no animal abuse convictions, no revoked licenses, a disaster plan and inventory, liability insurance, 72-hour prior notice to law enforcement before sale/relocation, and compliance with all laws.
• Penalty: Violation of the large felidae or wolf prohibition is a Class A misdemeanor.
• The bill is designed to be exempt from local funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates or amends a crime; it does not require local government approval for funding.
• Effective date: The act becomes law on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Animals