⚠️This fact has been debunked
This is a widely circulated urban legend with no basis in actual law. Debunked by Snopes and multiple fact-checkers. The myth-busting angle makes for an interesting article about legal urban legends.
The claim that donkeys may not be kept in bathtubs in Georgia is a popular legal urban legend with no basis in actual law.
Georgia's Bathtub Donkey Law Is Completely Made Up
If you've spent any time reading "weird laws" lists on the internet, you've probably encountered this gem: in Georgia, it's illegal to keep a donkey in a bathtub. Some versions claim the law exists in Arizona. Others insist it's actually several states. The story is always the same—and it's always completely made up.
There is no law in Georgia (or anywhere else) prohibiting donkeys from taking baths.
The Tall Tale Behind the Fake Law
The legend comes with an origin story that's almost too good to be true. In 1924, an Arizona farmer supposedly let his donkey sleep in an old bathtub. When a dam burst and flooded the town, the donkey floated downstream—still lounging in its porcelain vessel. The rescue took hours and lots of manpower, prompting lawmakers to ban the dangerous practice of bathtub-dwelling donkeys.
It's a delightful yarn. It's also fiction.
Legal researchers have combed through Georgia's statutes. They've checked Arizona's code. No donkey-bathtub prohibitions exist. The University of Arizona's legal experts confirm what fact-checkers like Snopes have been saying for years: this law is pure myth.
Why We Fall for Fake Weird Laws
The donkey-bathtub law exemplifies a whole genre of legal urban legends. These supposed statutes spread because they're:
- Absurdly specific — Who bathes donkeys? Why would you need a law?
- Just plausible enough — Small towns do pass oddly specific ordinances
- Entertaining to share — They make great conversation starters
- Rarely fact-checked — Most people don't verify obscure legal claims
The internet amplified these myths exponentially. One person posts a "crazy laws" list, another copies it, and soon the fiction achieves the appearance of fact through sheer repetition.
The Real Weird Laws
While the donkey law is fake, Georgia does have some genuinely odd statutes. In Gainesville, the "Poultry Capital of the World," there's an ordinance about eating fried chicken with utensils (though it's largely ceremonial). Some cities have unusual regulations about fortune telling or spitting on sidewalks.
The difference? You can actually find these laws in municipal codes. The donkey-bathtub ban exists only in the imaginations of internet listicle writers.
So next time someone shares a bizarre legal factoid, do what the original Georgia lawmakers apparently never did: check if it's actually in the books. Your donkey will thank you for clearing its good name.
