Missouri § 578.173 Baiting or fighting animals — penalty.

Missouri Statutes

§ 578.173 — Baiting or fighting animals — penalty.

Missouri § 578.173

Title XXXVIIICRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS

Ch. 578Miscellaneous Offenses

This text of Missouri § 578.173 (Baiting or fighting animals — penalty.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 578.173 (2026).

Text

1. A person commits the offense of baiting or fighting animals if he or she:

(1)Baits or fights animals;

(2)Permits baiting or animal fighting to be done on any premises under his or her charge or control;

(3)Promotes, conducts, or stages a baiting or fight between two or more animals;

(4)Advertises a baiting or fight between two or more animals;

(5)Collects any admission fee for a baiting or fight between two or more animals;

(6)Knowingly attends the baiting or fighting of animals;

(7)Knowingly sells, offers for sale, ships, or transports any animal which has been bred or trained to bait or fight another animal;

(8)Owns or possesses any of the cockfighting implements, commonly known as gaffs and slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached to the

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1. A person commits the offense of baiting or fighting animals if he or she:

(1) Baits or fights animals;

(2) Permits baiting or animal fighting to be done on any premises under his or her charge or control;

(3) Promotes, conducts, or stages a baiting or fight between two or more animals;

(4) Advertises a baiting or fight between two or more animals;

(5) Collects any admission fee for a baiting or fight between two or more animals;

(6) Knowingly attends the baiting or fighting of animals;

(7) Knowingly sells, offers for sale, ships, or transports any animal which has been bred or trained to bait or fight another animal;

(8) Owns or possesses any of the cockfighting implements, commonly known as gaffs and slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached to the leg of a gamecock; or

(9) Manufactures, sells, barters, or exchanges any of the cockfighting implements, commonly known as gaffs and slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached to the leg of a gamecock.

2. The offense of baiting or fighting animals is a class E felony.

Legislative History

(Adopted by Initiative, Proposition A, § B, November 3, 1998, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17 (2000) Proposition A did not violate constitutional requirements of single subject and clear title. United Gamefowl Breeders Ass'n. of Missouri v. Nixon, 19 S.W.3d 137 (Mo.banc).