I have been to North Carolina, but I never knew about these strange-but-true animal laws. Some of the best, yet, if you ask me. "Best" meaning "odd," of course, as that's really what we're after.
• It is against the law for anyone to keep "fowl that shall cackle," or for anyone to play the piccolo between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. I suppose these two go together, in a sense. Perhaps if we just get the fowl their own clocks, the will be better able to determine the appropriate time to cackle. And the late night raging piccolo players? They're on their own.
• In Raleigh, before a man asks for a woman's hand in marriage, he must be "inspected by all the barnyard animals on the young woman's family's property, to ensure a harmonious farm life." I love this. Who among us hasn't cast doubt upon a person our dog didn't approve of. Totally valid method. Should have thought of that twelve years ago (just kidding, honey).
• In Rocky Mount, you must pay a property tax on your dog. Must you also pay property tax on your woman?
• Elephants may not be used to plow cotton fields. Corn fields are better choice. Much sturdier.
• In Transylvania County, a Dalmation is deemed a "potentially dangerous" breed of dog. This takes breed-specific discrimination to a whole new level.
• All garbage fed to swine must first be thoroughly cooked. We've seen this in other states. Feeding raw food to pigs must be a real issue! I guess it's too much to ask them to decline.
• Llamas must be considered ordinary domestic livestock. So I guess that means no special treatment. Bummer.
• It is a crime for an owner not to kill a mad dog. Wow. Makes me wonder how this is defined. Seems like anyone could just shoot his dog and say it was mad. Ugh.
• In Barber, fights between cats and dogs are prohibited. Good luck enforcing that. I wonder if this applies to domestic disagreements within the four walls of one's own home.
• It is a crime if "any person owning or having any bitch shall knowingly permit her to run at large during the erotic stage of copulation." I'm not quite sure how she could physically run at large during the erotic stage of copulation. I'm hoping that this is, indeed, an animal law. Maybe it's best I just put this out of my head and move on. I suggest you do the same.
We'll see you next week when we take a look at North Dakota!
Law information source: stupidlaws.com, dumblaws.com, and realstrangelaws.com.