Delaware’s ban on dog and cat fur trade: Protecting pets from exploitation
Delaware law prohibits the sale, barter, or offering for sale of the fur or hair of a domestic dog or cat, as well as any products made from them, addressing a disturbing practice in which pets are exploited for commercial gain. According to Delaware Code Title 11, Section 1325A, selling pet fur is considered “unlawful trade in dog or cat by-products”. It constitutes a class B misdemeanor for fur and hair, or a class A misdemeanor for flesh. These laws were created to prevent people from profiting by stealing, adopting, or breeding dogs and cats specifically for their fur, protecting beloved companion animals from becoming commodities in the fur trade.
The scope of the prohibition
The law targets commercial trade of pet fur specifically, stating that “a person is guilty of the unlawful trade in dog or cat by-products in the second degree if the person knowingly or recklessly sells, barters or offers for sale or barter, the fur or hair of a domestic dog or cat or any product made in whole or in part from the fur or hair of a domestic dog or cat.” The ban targets explicitly commercial exploitation rather than incidental personal use, ensuring that people cannot establish businesses harvesting pet fur for profit. Violating this provision results in class B misdemeanor charges, reflecting Delaware’s commitment to protecting companion animals from commodification.
Important exceptions
The ban does not apply to certain legitimate activities. The law explicitly exempts “the sale or barter, or offering for sale or barter, of the fur or hair of a domestic dog or cat which has been cut at a commercial grooming establishment, or at a veterinary office or clinic, or for scientific research purposes.” This exception recognizes that grooming businesses and veterinary clinics accumulate pet hair as part of normal operations, and that scientific research may require animal materials for legitimate purposes. The distinction between the commercial pet fur trade and brushed fur from shedding pets maintained as companions remains clear.
Severe penalties for violators
Delaware imposes substantial penalties beyond standard misdemeanor sentences. Convicted violators face prohibition from owning or possessing any domestic dog or cat for 15 years, except for licensed commercial breeders receiving at least 25 percent of their annual gross income from such sales. Additionally, courts impose mandatory $2,500 fines and require forfeiture of any illegally owned domestic dogs or cats. These harsh penalties demonstrate Delaware’s determination to eliminate the pet fur trade by making violations financially devastating and preventing offenders from continuing to exploit animals.
Clear distinction from legitimate fur trade
Delaware’s code carefully defines “domestic dog or cat” as animals “generally recognized in the United States as being a household pet,” explicitly excluding “coyote, fox, lynx, bobcat or any other wild or commercially raised canine or feline species the fur or hair of which is recognized for use in warm clothing and outer wear by the United States Department of Agriculture.” This distinction ensures the law protects companion animals without interfering with legitimate fur industries involving animals commercially raised for that purpose.
Conclusion
Delaware’s comprehensive ban on the trade in dog and cat fur demonstrates how targeted legislation can protect companion animals from exploitation while maintaining clear distinctions between pets and commercially raised fur-bearing animals, and that substantial penalties deter abuse.
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