PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 604

CHAPTER 604
(House Bill 125)

AN ACT concerning

Crimes - Dogfights - Attendance

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from knowingly attending a dogfight
deliberately conducted dogfight as a spectator; and generally relating to dogfights.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments
Section 59(b) 59(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

59.

(b) Any person who (1) intentionally mutilates or cruelly kills an animal, or
causes, procures, or authorizes the cruel killing or intentional mutilation of an animal;
[or] (2) uses or permits a dog to be used in A DOGFIGHT; or (3) arranges [or], conducts,
OR ATTENDS a dogfight, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding
$5,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed 3 years, or both.

(a) Any person who (1) overdrives, overloads, deprives of necessary sustenance,
tortures, torments, or cruelly beats; or (2) causes, procures or authorizes these acts; or (3)
having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts
unnecessary suffering or pain upon the animal, or unnecessarily fails to provide the
animal with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care, proper drink,
air, space, shelter or protection from the weather: or (4) uses or permits to be used any
bird, fowl, or cock for the purpose of fighting with any other animal, which is commonly
known as cockfighting[,]; OR (5) KNOWINGLY ATTENDS A DELIBERATELY
CONDUCTED DOGFIGHT AS A SPECTATOR, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine not exceeding $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1996.

Approved May 23, 1996.

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