Animal Fighting Penalties

9
76-13-205
76-13-206
76-13-207
76-13-207.5
0
Animal Fighting Penalties
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Clinton D. Okerlund
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions related to animal fighting.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
amends the crimes of dog fighting, attending a dog fight or related activity, and game
fowl fighting;
enacts the offense of attending a game fowl fight or related activity; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
76-13-205
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173
76-13-206
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173
76-13-207
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173
ENACTS:
76-13-207.5
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
76-13-205
is amended to read:
76-13-205
. Dog fighting.
(1)
(a)
As used in this section, "dog fighting paraphernalia" means a breaking stick,
treadmill, wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker,
jenni, or other item meant to train a
dog to fight with another dog.
(b)
Terms defined in Sections
76-1-101.5
,
76-13-101
, and
76-13-201
apply to this
section.
(2)
An actor commits dog fighting if the actor:
(a)
owns, possesses, keeps, or trains a dog with the intent to engage the dog in
an
exhibition of
fighting with another dog;
(b)
causes a dog to fight with another dog
;
(c)
or
causes a dog to injure another dog for amusement or gain;
(c)
(d)
ties, attaches, or fastens any live animal to a machine or device propelled by any
power, for the purpose of causing the animal to be pursued by a dog;
(d)
(e)
permits
or allows any act that
or allows another individual to perform an act
that
violates Subsection
(2)(a)
, (b),
or
(c)
, or (d)
on
any
a
premises under the
actor's
charge
control
; or
(e)
(f)
controls, aids, or abets any act that violates
aids or abets another individual to
violate
Subsection
(2)(a)
, (b),
or
(c)
,
.
or (d).
(3)
(a)
A violation of Subsection
(2)
is a third degree felony.
(b)
A fine imposed for a violation of Subsection
(2)
may not exceed $25,000.
(4)
Possession of a breaking stick, treadmill, wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker, jenni,
or other paraphernalia,
An actor's possession of dog fighting paraphernalia is prima
facie evidence of a violation of Subsection
(2)(a)
, (b), (c), or (d) if:
(a)
the actor possesses a dog; and
(b)
together with
evidence
exists
that the paraphernalia is being used or is intended for
use in the
unlawful
training of
a
the
dog to fight with another dog
, together with
the possession of any such dog, is prima facie evidence of violation of Subsection
(2)(b)
or (c).
.
(5)
A fine imposed for a violation of Subsection
(2)
may not exceed $25,000
.
(5)
(6)
Nothing in this section prohibits any of the following
This section does not prohibit
:
(a)
the use of
dogs
a dog
for management of livestock by the owner, the owner's
employees or agents, or any other person in the lawful custody of livestock;
(b)
the use of
dogs
a dog
for hunting; or
(c)
the training of
dogs
a dog
or the possession or use of equipment in the training of
dogs
a dog
for any purpose not prohibited by law.
Section 2. Section
76-13-206
is amended to read:
76-13-206
. Attending a dog fight or related activity.
(1)
Terms defined in Sections
76-1-101.5
,
76-13-101
, and
76-13-201
apply to this section.
(2)
An actor commits attending a dog fight or related activity if the actor
knowingly or
intentionally
is
or knowingly
:
(a)
is
present as a spectator at a place, building, or tenement where preparations are
being made for
an exhibition of dog fighting
a dog fight
;
(b)
is
present at a dog
fighting exhibition
fight
;
(c)
c
auses
or
allows
an individual
under 18 years old to attend a dog fight;
or
(c)
(d)
is
present for any other conduct that would be in violation of Section
76-13-205
,
Dog fighting.
(3)
A violation of Subsection
(2)
is a class B misdemeanor.
Section 3. Section
76-13-207
is amended to read:
76-13-207
. Game fowl fighting.
(1)
(a)
As used in this section:
(i)
"Game fowl" means a fowl reared or used for fighting other fowl.
(ii)
"Promote" means to engage in promoting, producing, or staging events or
activities that involve game fowl fighting.
(b)
Terms defined in Sections
76-1-101.5
,
76-13-101
, and
76-13-201
apply to this
section.
(2)
An actor commits game fowl fighting if the actor
intentionally or knowingly
:
(a)
intentionally causes a game fowl to fight with or attack another game fowl for the
purpose of entertainment, sport, or contest; or
(b)
promotes any activity that involves game fowl fighting, including promoting an
activity that is a violation of Subsection
(2)(a)
.
(a)
promotes game fowl fighting;
(b)
sells a game fowl;
(c)
owns, possesses, keeps, or trains a game fowl with the intent to engage the game
fowl in fighting another game fowl;
(d)
causes a game fowl to fight with another game fowl;
(e)
causes a game fowl to injure another game fowl for amusement or gain;
(f)
permits or allows another individual to perform an act that violates Subsection
(2)(a)
,
(b), (c), (d), or (e) on a premises under the actor's control; or
(g)
aids or abets another individual to violate Subsection
(2)(a)
, (b), (c), (d), or (e)
.
(3)
A violation of Subsection
(2)
is:
(a)
a class B misdemeanor for the first violation;
(b)
a class A misdemeanor for the second violation; or
(c)
a third degree felony for a third or subsequent violation.
(4)
This section does not prohibit the lawful use of livestock by the livestock owner, an
employee or agent of the livestock owner, or a person
in the
with
lawful custody of
livestock.
Section 4. Section
76-13-207.5
is enacted to read:
76-13-207.5
. Attending a game fowl fight or related activity.
(1)
Terms defined in Sections
76-1-101.5
,
76-13-101
, and
76-13-201
apply to this section.
(2)
An actor commits attending a game fowl fight or related activity if the actor
intentionally or knowingly:
(a)
is present as a spectator at a place, building, or tenement where preparations are
being made for a game fowl fight;
(b)
is present at a game fowl fight;
(c)
causes or allows an individual under 18 years old to attend a game fowl fight; or
(d)
is present for any other conduct that would be in violation of Section
76-13-207
,
Game fowl fighting.
(3)
A violation of Subsection
(2)
is a class B misdemeanor.
Section 5.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
1-22-26 4:31 PM