(a) Animal Fights. No person shall knowingly engage in or be employed at cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another; no person shall receive money for the admission of another to a place kept for such purpose; no person shall use, train or possess any animal for seizing, detaining, or maltreating a domestic animal. Any person who knowingly purchases a ticket of admission to such place, or is present thereafter, or witnesses such spectacle, is an aider and abettor. Whoever violates this division (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(b) Dog Fighting Offense, Investigations, Confiscation of Dogs and Equipment. No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Promote, engage in, or be employed at dog fighting;
(2) Receive money for the admission of another person to a place kept for dog fighting;
(3) Sell, purchase, possess, or train a dog for dog fighting;
(4) Use, train, or possess a dog for seizing, detaining, or maltreating a domestic animal;
(5) Purchase a ticket of admission to or be present at a dog fight;
(6) Witness a dog fight if it is present at a dog fight.
(c) The Department of Agriculture may investigate complaints and follow up rumors of dog fighting activities and may report any information so gathered to an appropriate prosecutor or law enforcement agency.
(d) Any peace officer, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2935.01, shall confiscate any dogs that have been, are, or are intended to be used in dog fighting and any equipment or devices used in training such dogs or as part of dog fights.
(e) Whoever violates division (b), (c) or (d) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Statutory reference:
Animal fights, see Ohio R.C. 959.15
Dog fighting offenses; investigations; confiscation of dogs and equipment, see Ohio R.C. 959.16