Are Kangals legal in the US? Are they allowed to be owned by people living in the United States? Are you able to bring a Kangal from overseas and keep it with you on your property or on your farm if you live in America?
These are some of the questions that we will answer for you today. We will also discuss how many states allow these animals, as well as what types of licenses, passports, and vaccinations are needed to own them.
Let’s start with the most important one; can you own a Kangal Legally in the US? Kangals are perfectly legal in the US and there is no federal ban on Kangals. However, you may need to get permission or a permit for keeping a Kangal depending on the state and local laws. It’s difficult to get Kangals in the US because Turkey banned exporting them and not because of US laws.
To understand what it takes to own a Kangal in the US, what laws should you be aware of and what are the steps of getting a Kangal as a US citizen, keep reading…
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Is it legal to own a Kangal in the US?
The first step of owning a Kangal in the US is to check state and local laws. In some states, it’s legal to own one but you must obtain a permit or license from certain departments before importing an animal into the United States. Some other states have all out bans on dogs that are not recognized as purebred by breed organizations in the United States.
To own a Kangal in Texas, for example, you must have a permit from the state’s agriculture department. The animal must be registered with the AKC and you must provide proof of liability insurance to cover any damages that your kangal may cause.
In California, it is legal to own a Kangal without a permit, but the dog must be licensed and microchipped.
In Illinois, it is legal to own Kangals if they are registered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and you have a valid USDA license for owning that particular breed of animal.
These are just a few examples – make sure to check local laws before getting a Kangal because the rules may be different depending on where you live.
The True difficulty in getting a Kangal
What makes getting a kangal difficult than it should be is not US laws, but the fact that Turkey has classified Kangals as a national treasure and has made it almost impossible to export the dog out of the country.
It’s easy to see why they did this; the Kangal has proven to be a fierce protector, it’s one of the best guard dogs in the world that can kill wolves, coyotes, and even fight bears and other predators.
You can learn how strong are Kangals in this guide.
Due to their strength and quick rise to fame as superior guard dogs, people from all over the world started importing them and the numbers of Kangals in the country started dwindling.
Fearing the breed’s pure line is going to disappear from the country altogether, turkey decided to put some rules and laws in place which have made sure that the Kangals remain in Turkey.
This means that, as a US citizen, it’s really difficult to get a Kangal from Turkey directly now. There are kangal breeders in the US, but due to the supply and demand gap, these dogs are now getting more expensive than they used to.
How much is a Kangal dog in the US?
A Kangal puppy from a reputable breeder now can cost you anything from $2,000 to $4,000 or even more depending on where you live and where you get the dog.
However, this can be a good investment still despite the high price tag. There are very few dogs that can do the job as well as Kangals do, and if you live in a rural area where wolves or coyotes are snatching animals from your farm, a Kangal can definitely save you money on the long term or even the short term if the problem is that bad.
Can I bring my Kangal from overseas?
We have already mentioned that getting a Kangal out of turkey is going to be difficult, but you can get them from other countries with more Kangal breeders, one such example would be Australia where Kangals are getting more popular every day.
If you are thinking about bringing your kangal with you when moving to America, then there’s also something that you should consider – importing or exporting animals into and out of the United States is a complicated process.
There are many things that you must do in order to legally import an animal into the United States. You must have a valid rabies vaccine and your kangal must be microchipped. The dog also needs to have an international health certificate and a veterinary inspection within ten days of entering the country.
Additionally, you must have an import permit from the Department of Agriculture. The process to get this permit can take up to two months, so it’s important that you start planning ahead if you want to bring your kangal with you when moving to America.
Is it difficult to own a Kangal in the US?
Owning a Kangal in the US is not easy if you do not know what you are doing. It can be difficult to find out where to start or who to turn too, especially since many people are unaware of how their state’s laws work.
The rules for owning wild dogs like Kangals change depending on which state you live in. So, it is important to do your research and understand what the requirements are before getting a Kangal dog.
If you want to own one of these dogs but don’t know where to start or how to get started with owning an animal like this, then consider contacting local breeders who can help guide you through the process. Many Kangal breeders in the United States are more than happy to help US citizens own these dogs and can provide all of the necessary paperwork, licenses, and vaccinations required by law.
Helpful Resources
US Breed-specific Legislations
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