Is it Legal or Illegal to Own a Wolf Dog in Arkansas?

Lately, in the news you may have heard about dangerous wolf dogs being spotted in Alabama, these hybrid dogs can be a menace to society and a child was killed by one last year in Alabama.

Wolf Dogs

So, it got me thinking what is the legality of owning a wolf-dog as a pet in Arkansas, is it considered legal or illegal?

The answer shocked me a little but they are legal in the state of Arkansas without any kind of permit. Under the law, a "wolf-dog hybrid” means any animal that is publicly acknowledged by its owner as being the offspring of a wolf and domestic dog, however, no animal may be judged to be a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid based strictly on its appearance, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center.

Wolf Dogs must be contained in a fenced area by their owner however if the wolf-dog gets out of the confined area and bites a person or kill another animal the owner is liable and it could be considered a Class A Felony and the owner could be convicted.

Wolf Dogs are not allowed as pets in 12 U.S. States Georgia, Connecticut, Illinois, Hawaii, Michigan, Massachusettes, Maryland, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Rhode Island, and New York.

What is a Wolfdog?

A dog is bred to another wolfdog or dog of the same canine species, while a wolf hybrid is a cross between a real wolf and a dog or a wolfdog that has been bred with a wolf. It's not recommended to own a wolf-dog as a pet because they are very aggressive animals and are hard to control they tend to tear up everything in their surroundings. The lifespan of these hybrid dogs is usually between 12 -14 years depending on the health of the dog.

Closest to a Wolf - Siberian Husky

And just in case you were wondering, yes, the Siberian Husky is often touted as the breed closest to the wolf.

Wolf Dogs usually don't bark they tend to growl more because of their sensitivity and their eyes vary in color from dark brown, blue, and yellow, to green. As long as they don't have red eyes, I'm good.

The best advice about seeing a wolf-dog is to maintain a distance and call local authorities if the dog becomes agitated or aggressive toward you.