Scoop Senior Editor "Wags"
bones up on dog law.
ATHOL, MA (USA) — If passed in next week's
community vote, then a northern Massachusetts town will legally allow "horses, cats and/or
dogs to enter into local taverns for a sip of sarsaparilla or any other
unidentifiable beverage; or act in relation thereto."
The article, one of 31 on the upcoming
fall town meeting roster, was introduced by a citizens' petition
circulated by Patricia Demarest. Ms. Demarest had intended the
proposal as a practical joke, not realizing that the Board of Selectmen
could not reject the article before it was included in the final town
meeting agenda for next Monday night.
According to the Boston
Globe, she wanted to poke fun at Selectman Jim White, who rode a
horse into a local bar despite town law prohibiting pets in such
establishments. Ms. Demarest explains, "I thought they would
consider it, it would be a joke and they would reject it."
Not quite. Now that the proposal
has a chance at ending up on the books, she plans on pushing forward by
making sure a motion is allowed and seconded so that the issue will be
brought before the voters at the meeting. She doesn't believe it
will be approved, but she said at least it will be voted on.
Of course, while this proposed new law may indeed seem
lighthearted and flippant, it does raise some very compelling legal
issues.
For one, would the legal drinking age
still be 21 years—or would that be 21 dog years? (...things that make you go
"hmm.") |
Other strange, unusual and bizarre dog
laws have already found their way to legal immortality in the United
States and around the world. Some of these laws go back to the
horse-and-buggy era and have simply never been removed from the books.
Some others defy explanation.
While
there's no court in the land that would prosecute you for "failing
to have [your dog's] hind legs tied during the month of April"
(Massachusetts)1,
you never know when it might behoove you to brush up on some local
ordinances.
PALDING, OH
A police officer may bite a dog to quiet him.1
ZION,
IL
It is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, and other
domesticated animals kept as pets.1
VENTURA
COUNTY, CA
Cats and dogs are not allowed to have sex without a permit.2
HARTFORD,
CT
It is illegal to educate dogs.1
OKLAHOMA
People who make "ugly faces" at dogs may be fined and/or
jailed.2
NEVADA
It is "legal" to hang a person for shooting your dog on your
property (but it's not legal to
drive a camel on the highway).3
Sources:
1Dick
Hyman. Crazy Laws.
Scholastic Inc.
ISBN 0-590-05364-7
2Libertarian Party of Maryland.
Weird
American Laws.
3Insider
Viewpoint of Las Vegas.
Nevada
State and County Bizarre Laws.
§§§
Headlines
Prev  Next
|
