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2025 Ohio Revised Code
Title 9 | Agriculture-Animals-Fences
Chapter 959 | Offenses Relating to Domestic Animals
Section 959.15 | Animal Fights.

Universal Citation:
OH Rev Code § 959.15 (2025)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
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Effective: March 31, 2021

Latest Legislation: House Bill 24 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:

(1) Engage in cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another;

(2) Use, train, or possess any animal for seizing, detaining, or maltreating a domestic animal.

(B) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:

(1) Be employed at cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another;

(2) Do any of the following regarding an event involving cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another:

(a) Wager money or anything else of value on the results of the event;

(b) Pay money or give anything else of value in exchange for admission to or being present at the event;

(c) Receive money or anything else of value in exchange for the admission of another person to the event or for another person to be present at the event;

(d) Use, possess, or permit or cause to be present at the event any device or substance intended to enhance an animal's ability to fight or to inflict injury on another animal;

(e) Permit or cause a minor to be present at the event if any person present at or involved with the event is conducting any of the activities described in division (B)(1) or (B)(2)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section.

(C) A person who knowingly witnesses cockfighting, bearbaiting, or an event in which one animal is pitted against another when a violation of division (B) of this section is occurring at the cockfighting, bearbaiting, or event is an aider and abettor and has committed a violation of this division.

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