Free-roaming cattle can be hazardous to farm traffic.
Animals roaming without proper supervision create health and safety hazards to communities, to property and to themselves. Regulating the movement of such animals prevents the spread of disease, injuries to humans and animals, and the birth of unwanted animals destined to be destroyed.
Types
As of 2010 local, state and federal laws regulating animals roaming at large in the United States included city and county leash laws, state and county guidelines on the confinement and handling of loose livestock, and the federal protection of endangered wildlife species moving onto farm and ranch land.
Function
According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the government institutes loose-animal regulations to protect the general public from dangerous and destructive animals and to ensure the right to safety of its citizens. For example, in New York state, anyone attacked by a dangerous dog, or witnessing such an attack, may destroy the dog without fear of retribution.
Warning
Running at large statutes encourage animal owners to be responsible for the humane care of their pets. Confinement must be secure and safe as well as healthy for the animal, states the International Institute for Animal Law. This means that confined animals must have access to adequate food, water and shelter.
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