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It's legal to own a pet fox in 15 US states.
- Celebrities from Michael Jackson to Salvador Dali have popularized the idea of owning exotic animals as house pets.
- From lions to tigers to bears, some of the exotic animals that are legal to own in the US will surely surprise you.
- Though it may be legal to own some of these animals, many experts advise against it because of the special care these animals require.
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George Clooney and Miley Cyrus have happily called baby pigs their pets. Tori Spelling famously cares for a chicken named Coco who sleeps in her bed.
But those creatures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unusual animals that are legal to privately own in the US.
The laws regarding exotic pet ownership vary by state. Animal rights advocates advise against keeping most wild animals in captivity, but that hasn't stopped exotic pet lovers from legally owning everything from ferrets and foxes to more dangerous beasts like alligators, bears, and tigers.
Here is a list of 14 animals that are surprisingly legal to own in the US.