578.025. Dogs, fighting, training to fight or injuring for amusement or gain, penalty--spectator, penalty. - Missouri Statutes

Dogs, fighting, training to fight or injuring for amusement or gain,penalty--spectator, penalty.

578.025. 1. Any person who:

(1) Owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any dog, with the intent that suchdog shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with another dog;

(2) For amusement or gain, causes any dog to fight with another dog, orcauses any dogs to injure each other; or

(3) Permits any act as described in subdivision (1) or (2) of thissubsection to be done on any premises under his charge or control, or aids orabets any such act is guilty of a class D felony.

2. Any person who is knowingly present, as a spectator, at any place,building, or structure where preparations are being made for an exhibition ofthe fighting of dogs, with the intent to be present at such preparations, oris knowingly present at such exhibition or at any other fighting or injuringas described in subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section, with theintent to be present at such exhibition, fighting, or injuring is guilty of aclass A misdemeanor.

3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit:

(1) The use of dogs in the management of livestock by the owner of suchlivestock or his employees or agents or other persons in lawful custody ofsuch livestock;

(2) The use of dogs in hunting; or

(3) The training of dogs or the use of equipment in the training of dogsfor any purpose not prohibited by law.

(L. 1984 H.B. 1210 § 1)