Rats are illegal as pets! :(

[Jodi]

I've heard from a couple of sources that we have some local law regarding hedgehogs... either it is, or used to be, illegal to own them (possibly within city limits?), or it is or was illegal to sell them. I think the reason, from what little I've heard, is that we have a very, very cold climate in the winters here. We only have a "growing season" of around 4 months here, and we get lots of snow and very cold temps (sub-zero isn't that unusual) during our winters. We've even had snow fall on the 4th of July here before!

Anyway, hedgies need to be kept warm, and I guess that's the concern and the reason for the law or ordinance. I've never been able to verify the actual existence of this law... just a rumor I've heard a few times. Our hedgie was rescued from a family who had lost their interest in her and, frankly, weren't taking overly good care of her anymore, and we always keep a heating pad under the bottom floor of her cage. We're very careful about making sure she stays warm. Honestly, I can understand in this case why a rule might have been put into effect... I suppose folks were owning hedgies and not making sure they were kept warm enough.  

[amymckee]

Gars- do you mean those weird fish?

Yes.  Some gars, like alligator gars, reach lengths of 8 feet.  Can you imagine?  LOL!  OMG!

Wow, I had no idea people kept those as pets! What state? I just saw one (it was stuffed) for the first time a couple weeks ago at my bf's school. They look pretty nasty, like barracudas.
They have a small stuffed one at my bf's school, because they call their freshman "gars".

One time on this fish care site I help moderate I played a joke on everyone by saying my pond dwelling gar had eaten my 3 year old baby, and I wanted to know what I should do.  

ROFL!  People were actually trying to help, "I would suggest you call animal control and 911 right now!"  LOL!

it was April Fool's Day...

[RatStalker]

I'm not sure which states allow gars to be kept.

The funny thing is, even though they're illegal to own & sell here in CA, I've seen them in my favorite fish store.  LOL!  About 8 months ago they were selling baby alligator gars for about $15 each.  They were about 9" long at the time.  I could NOT believe it!

I told the manager I was totally outraged by that since they grow so large, and they should know better  than to sell an animal few people would be able to give proper care.

He informed me that he'll run his store his way, and if I opened my own store I could refuse to sell them.  LOL!

[Joe]

   You've also got to remember that there's gonna be laws that seemed good in the heat of the moment, but then are ignored once everyone figures out they're stupid, or else it'd never happen again. It's a lot of hassle to have a law removed. For ya'll's amusement, here's a list of some really stupid animal laws (many of which are still in effect) that were put up, and then ignored for one reason or another:

In Alaska, it's considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane.
In Florida, if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.
In Kansas, the state game rule prohibits the use of mules to hunt ducks.
In Nebraska, it is illegal to go whale fishing.
In North Carolina, elephants may not be used to plow cotton fields.
In Ohio, owners of tigers must notify authorities within one hour if the tiger escapes.
In South Carolina, it is illegal to house a horse is a bath tub.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to use a lasso to catch a fish.

[Roxanne]

I couldn't imagine....rat's being illegal, how silly.  I mean pet rats aren't "pests" they are someone's loved pet/family member.  I can't see what harm owning and loving a rat would do.  They're not wild animals or anything.

[Jodi]

LOL! Dang, Joe! Guess I'm gonna have to cancel my whale fishing trip to Nebraska this summer!  

Oops, s'cuse me... gotta go help the horse out of the tub now (good thing I'm in Oregon!)....

Heheheheheh....

[SADCAT]

I've heard of people keeping raccoons as pets here, and skunks, and ferrets and rats and plenty of other "exotic" animals. But there was a story that made the paper when a family wanted to keep their baby chicken as a pet and the authorities just wouldn't allow it. Sheesh...

[mustang_grl143]

that is really messed up it's things like that that make me wonder if we really live in a free country or not. How is a rat as a pet going to hurt anyone....I know ferrets are illegal in California were I live  but not rats  
where do you live???

[Bonnie]

Joe! I love reading those dumb laws. Whaling in Nebraska...lol...

A while back I was real bored and I found this
site:

http://www.dumblaws.com/

It made me laugh so much...

[SADCAT]

Ha, that website is hilarious! I remember someone showing it to me a while ago and I was blown away.

[kenancy]

"Billings -- No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his or her premises a wild animal or wild animal hybrid except a wolf-dog hybrid in private possession prior to February 1, 1993 may be retained by the same person. Wild animal means any live monkey, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous snake, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, coyote, wolf or any warm-blooded animal taken from the wild state."

I would double check the exact wording of the law you are referring to.  It may be that there is an allowed distinction between wild rats and a domesticated rat.  Check the law to see if it makes any such distinction between the two.  You may be freaking out for nothing.