Per Missouri State Statute 578.023 RSMo:

“No person may keep any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, Canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarondi, hyena, wolf, bear, nonhuman primate, coyote, any deadly, dangerous, or poisonous reptile, or any deadly or dangerous reptile over eight feet long, in any place other than a properly maintained zoological park, circus, scientific, or educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital, or animal refuge, unless such person has registered such animals with the local law enforcement agency in the county in which the animal is kept.”

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

We would ask that any Adair County resident who is a keeper of an exotic animal as described in the statute above, please contact the Sheriff’s Office in order that your  animal is added to the registry.  Registry can be done over the telephone.

If a member of the community should become aware of the existence of an exotic animal as described in the above statute, please feel free to contact the Sheriff’s Office with any information you may have.

Calls can be made Monday – Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM to 660-665-4644.