39-14-203.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to:

(1) Own, possess, keep, use or train any bull, bear, dog, cock or other animal, for the purpose of fighting, baiting or injuring another such animal, for amusement, sport or gain;

(2) Cause, for amusement, sport or gain, any such animal to fight, bait or injure another animal, or each other;

(3) Permit any such acts stated in subdivisions (a)(1) and (2) to be done on any premises under the person's charge or control, or aid or abet such act; or

(4) Be knowingly present, as a spectator, at any place or building where preparations are being made for an exhibition for such fighting, baiting or injuring of any animal, with the intent to be present at such exhibition, fighting, baiting or injuring.

(b) It is the legislative intent that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the training or use of hunting dogs for sport or to the training or use of dogs for law enforcement purposes.

(c) (1) Except for any offense involving a cock, an offense under subdivisions (a)(1)-(3) is a Class E felony.

(2) An offense involving a cock under subdivisions (a)(1)-(3) is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) An offense under subdivision (a)(4) is a Class C misdemeanor.

(e) It is not an offense to own, possess or keep cocks, or aid or abet the ownership, possession or keeping of cocks, for the sole purpose of selling or transporting such cocks to a location in which possession or keeping of such cocks is legal.

HISTORY: [Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 625, §§ 1, 2.]

NOTES:
Sentencing Commission Comments.

In the 1990 amendment, the general assembly lowered the penalty for cockfighting from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor and decriminalized the ownership and possession of cocks for breeding purposes.