Is it legal to keep wild or endangered animals as pets?

In Massachusetts, it is generally illegal to keep wild or endangered animals as pets. The state has a policy of strict enforcement against keeping certain wild animals. Under Massachusetts’s animal rights law, it is illegal to keep any wild or endangered animals for private use or amusement, including as pets. This includes any animal that is native to the state, as well as any animal that is classified as endangered or threatened by Massachusetts or federal law. Although there are some exemptions to this rule, they are limited and require a special permit from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Furthermore, Massachusetts has additionally enacted a number of laws that further restrict the keeping of wild and endangered animals as pets. These laws include restrictions on the breeding, purchase, sale, transfer, and transportation of wild and endangered animals. Additionally, Massachusetts requires special permits for people who wish to keep certain species, such as primates, as pets. All of these laws are in place in order to protect the health and welfare of the animals, as well as the public. Simply put, it is illegal to keep wild or endangered animals as pets in Massachusetts without a special permit. Not only is it against the law, it is also unethical and dangerous to both the animals and the people who may come in contact with them.

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