§ 5-62-120 — Unlawful animal fighting

(a) (1) A person commits the offense of unlawful animal fighting in the first degree if he or she knowingly: (A) Promotes, engages in, or is employed at animal fighting; (B) Receives money for the admission of another person to a place kept for animal fighting; or (C) Sells, purchases, possesses, or trains an animal for animal fighting. (2) Unlawful animal fighting in the first degree is a Class D felony. (b) (1) A person commits the offense of unlawful animal fighting in the second degree if he or she knowingly: (A) Purchases a ticket of admission to or is present at an animal fight; or (B) Witnesses an animal fight if it is presented as a public spectacle. (2) Unlawful animal fighting in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor. (c) Upon the arrest of any person for violating a provision of this section, the arresting law enforcement officer or animal control officer may seize and take custody of all animals in the possession of the arrested person. (d) (1) Upon the conviction of any person for violating a provision of this section, any court of competent jurisdiction may order the forfeiture by the convicted person of all animals the use of which was the basis of the conviction. (2) Any animal ordered forfeited under a provision of this subsection shall be placed with an appropriate place of custody or an animal control agency. (e) In addition to the fines, penalties, and forfeitures imposed under this section, the court may require the defendant to make restitution to the state, any of its political subdivisions, or an appropriate place of custody for housing, feeding, or providing medical treatment to an animal used for unlawful animal fighting. (f) As used in this section, "animal fighting" means fighting between roosters or other birds or between dogs, bears, or other animals.

Legislative History

Acts 1981, No. 862, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-2918.1; Acts 1987, No. 26, § 1; 1989, No. 528, § 1; 2009, No. 33, § 6.