2023 New York Laws › AGM - Agriculture and Markets › Article 26 - Animals › 351 - Prohibition of Animal Fighting.

§ 351. Prohibition  of  animal  fighting.  1.  For  purposes  of  this
section, the term "animal fighting" shall mean any fight  between  cocks
or  other  birds, or between dogs, bulls, bears or any other animals, or
between any such animal and a person or persons, except  in  exhibitions
of a kind commonly featured at rodeos.
2. Any person who engages in any of the following conduct is guilty of
a  felony  punishable  by  imprisonment  for a period not to exceed four
years, or by a fine not to exceed twenty-five thousand  dollars,  or  by
both such fine and imprisonment:
(a)  For  amusement  or  gain,  causes  any animal to engage in animal
fighting; or
(b) Trains any animal under circumstances evincing an intent that such
animal engage in animal fighting for amusement or gain; or
(c) Breeds, sells or offers for sale any  animal  under  circumstances
evincing an intent that such animal engage in animal fighting; or
(d)  Permits  any  act  described in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this
subdivision to occur on premises under his control; or
(e) Owns, possesses or keeps any animal trained to  engage  in  animal
fighting  on  premises  where  an exhibition of animal fighting is being
conducted under circumstances evincing an intent that such animal engage
in animal fighting.
3. (a) Any person who engages in conduct specified in paragraph (b) of
this subdivision is  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  and  is  punishable  by
imprisonment  for  a  period not to exceed one year, or by a fine not to
exceed fifteen thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b)  The  owning,  possessing  or  keeping   of   any   animal   under
circumstances  evincing  an  intent  that  such  animal engage in animal
fighting.
4. (a) Any person who engages in conduct specified  in  paragraph  (b)
hereof  is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment for
a period not to exceed one year, or by a fine not to exceed one thousand
dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b) The knowing presence as a spectator having paid an  admission  fee
or  having  made  a  wager  at  any  place where an exhibition of animal
fighting is being conducted.
5. (a) Any person who engages in the conduct  specified  in  paragraph
(b) of this subdivision is guilty of a class B misdemeanor punishable by
imprisonment  for  a period not to exceed three months, or by a fine not
to exceed five hundred dollars, or by both such fine  and  imprisonment.
Any person who engages in the conduct specified in paragraph (b) of this
subdivision  after  having been convicted within the previous five years
of a violation of this subdivision or subdivision four of  this  section
is  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  and  is punishable by imprisonment for a
period not to exceed one year, or by a fine not to exceed  one  thousand
dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b)  The  knowing  presence  as  a  spectator  at  any  place where an
exhibition of animal fighting is being conducted.
6. (a) Any person who intentionally owns, possesses, sells,  transfers
or  manufactures animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to engage
in or otherwise promote or facilitate  animal  fighting  as  defined  in
subdivision  one  of  this  section  is  guilty of a class B misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment for a period of up to ninety days,  or  by  a
fine  not  to  exceed  five  hundred  dollars,  or by both such fine and
imprisonment. Any person who engages in the conduct  specified  in  this
subdivision  after  having been convicted within the previous five years
of a violation of this subdivision is guilty of  a  misdemeanor  and  is
punishable  by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year, or by a

fine not to exceed one thousand  dollars,  or  by  both  such  fine  and
imprisonment.
(b)  For purposes of this section, animal fighting paraphernalia shall
mean equipment, products, or  materials  of  any  kind  that  are  used,
intended  for  use,  or  designed  for use in the training, preparation,
conditioning  or  furtherance  of  animal  fighting.   Animal   fighting
paraphernalia includes the following:
(i)  A  breaking  stick,  which  means a device designed for insertion
behind the molars of a dog for the purpose of breaking the dog's grip on
another animal or object;
(ii) A cat mill, which means a device that rotates  around  a  central
support  with  one  arm designed to secure a dog and one arm designed to
secure a cat, rabbit, or other small animal beyond the grasp of the dog;
(iii) A treadmill, which means an exercise  device  consisting  of  an
endless belt on which the animal walks or runs without changing places;
(iv)  A  springpole,  which  means  a  biting  surface  attached  to a
stretchable device, suspended at a height sufficient to  prevent  a  dog
from reaching the biting surface while touching the ground;
(v)  A  fighting  pit, which means a walled area, or otherwise defined
area, designed to contain an animal fight;
(vi) Any other instrument commonly used in the furtherance of  pitting
an animal against another animal.