ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 121

(I)      A GAFF;

(II)     A SLASHER;

(III)   A POSTIZA;

(IV)    A SPARRING MUFF; AND

(V)     ANY OTHER SHARP IMPLEMENT DESIGNED TO BE ATTACHED IN
PLACE OF THE NATURAL SPUR OF A GAMECOCK OR OTHER FIGHTING BIRD.

(B) A person may not:

(1)      use or allow the use of a fowl, cock, or other bird to fight with another
animal;

(2)      POSSESS, WITH THE INTENT TO UNLAWFULLY USE, AN IMPLEMENT
OF COCKFIGHTING;

(3)      ARRANGE OR CONDUCT A FIGHT IN WHICH A FOWL, COCK, OR OTHER
BIRD FIGHTS WITH ANOTHER FOWL, COCK, OR OTHER BIRD;

(4)      POSSESS, OWN, SELL, TRANSPORT, OR TRAIN A FOWL, COCK, OR
OTHER BIRD FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING IN FIGHTING WITH THE INTENT TO
USE THE FOWL, COCK, OR OTHER BIRD IN A COCKFIGHT; OR

(5)      KNOWINGLY ALLOW PREMISES UNDER THE PERSON'S OWNERSHIP,
CHARGE, OR CONTROL TO BE USED TO CONDUCT A FIGHT IN WHICH A FOWL, COCK,
OR OTHER BIRD FIGHTS WITH ANOTHER FOWL, COCK, OR OTHER BIRD.

[(b)] (C) (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of
aggravated cruelty to animals and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not
exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.

(2) As a condition of sentencing, the court may order a defendant
convicted of violating this section to participate in and pay for psychological
counseling.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 2004.

Approved April 27, 2004.

CHAPTER 121
(House Bill 24)

AN ACT concerning

Criminal Law - Animal Cruelty - Dogfighting and Cockfighting

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from knowingly attending as a spectator a
deliberately conducted event that uses a fowl, cock, or other bird to fight with

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