Laws supporting post-conviction possession bans

Laws supporting post-conviction possession bans

After a person is convicted of animal cruelty, the court may prohibit the defendant from owning or possessing any animal for a period of time. In many states, this prohibition is statutorily authorized, or even mandated. These possession bans are one of the most effective ways to prevent repeat offenses. They restrict an abuser’s access to animals, drastically limiting the pool of potential victims. They also allow law enforcement to intervene quickly to protect at-risk animals.

This has been a continuing trend over the past two decades. In 2005, only 22 states and 1 territory total had laws requiring or explicitly permitting courts to order convicted offenders refrain from owning, possessing, or residing with an animal. As of December 2025, those numbers are up to a total of 42 states and 4 territories. Twenty-two of those states mandate possession bans after a conviction for animal cruelty—though several of those state statutes are limited to specific species or crimes, such as the sexual assault of an animal. The remaining 20 states, Guam, and D.C. statutorily authorize possession bans, but those are ultimately left up to the court’s discretion.

In 2025, both Maryland and Washington expanded their existing possession ban laws. Maryland created a new crime of animal abuse or neglect that results in the death of the animal. Like Maryland’s pre-existing animal cruelty laws, this new crime also permits the court to prohibit the convicted offender from owning, possessing, or residing with an animal for a period of time. Washington also strengthened its possession ban law in 2025 by requiring courts to impose a lifetime possession ban upon any person convicted of animal fighting.

2025 U.S. Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report

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