45-8-210. Causing animals to fight -- owners, trainers, and spectators -- penalties -- exception -- definition. (1) A person commits the offense of causing animals to fight if he:
     (a) owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any animal with the intent that such animal fight or be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with another animal;
     (b) allows or causes any animal to fight with another animal or causes any animal to menace or injure another animal for the purpose of sport, amusement, or gain;
     (c) knowingly permits any act in violation of subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b) to take place on any premises under his charge or control, or aids or abets any such act;
     (d) participates in any exhibition in which animals are fighting for the purpose of sport, amusement, or gain.
     (2) A person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a felony and shall be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000 or imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 1 year or more than 5 years, or both such fine and imprisonment.
     (3) Nothing in this section prohibits the following:
     (a) accepted husbandry practices used in the raising of livestock or poultry;
     (b) the use of animals in the normal and usual course of rodeo events; or
     (c) the use of animals in hunting and training as permitted by law.
     (4) For purposes of this section, "animal" means any cock, bird, dog, or mammal except man.

     History: En. Secs. 2, 3, Ch. 410, L. 1985.