Iowa legal term
Pet in Iowa Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
In Iowa criminal law, “Pet” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Iowa criminal code.
What does “Pet” mean in Iowa criminal law?
“Pet” means a living animal which is limited to a dog, cat, or an animal normally maintained in a small tank or cage in or near a residence, including but not limited to a rabbit, gerbil, hamster, mouse, parrot, canary, mynah, finch, tropical fish, goldfish, snake, turtle, gecko, or iguana. (Iowa Code § 717E.1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.