Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 17
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17, § 1033 (2026)

Animal fighting

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Animal fighting.  A person is guilty of animal fighting if that person knowingly:  
A. Owns, possesses, keeps or trains any animal with the intent that the animal engage in an exhibition of fighting with another animal;   [PL 1987, c. 383, §4 (NEW).]
B. For amusement or gain, causes any animal to fight with another animal or causes any animals to injure each other; or   [PL 1987, c. 383, §4 (NEW).]
C. Permits any act in violation of paragraph A or B to be done on any premises under that person's charge or control.   [PL 1997, c. 690, §72 (AMD).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §23 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
1-A.  Penalty.  A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class C crime. In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall impose a fine of not less than $500 for each violation of subsection 1.  
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §24 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2.  Viewing animal fighting.  A person is guilty of viewing animal fighting if that person knowingly is present at any place or building where preparations are being made for an exhibition of the fighting of animals or is present at such an exhibition.  
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §25 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
2-A.  Penalty.  A person who violates subsection 2 commits a Class D crime.  
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §26 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
3.  Affirmative defense.  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under subsections 1 and 2 that the activity charged involves the possession, training, exhibition or use of an animal in the otherwise lawful sport of animal hunting and the training or use of hunting dogs. It is also an affirmative defense that the defendant's conduct involved the use of live animals as bait or in the training of other animals in accordance with the laws of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Title 12, Part 13.  
[PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §33 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]
4.  Exception.  Activity involving the possession, training, exhibition or use of an animal in the otherwise lawful pursuits of hunting, farming and security services is exempt from subsections 1 and 2.  
[PL 1987, c. 383, §4 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 383, §4 (NEW). PL 1997, c. 690, §72 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §B33 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 452, §§I23-26 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 2011–2015 · leading case: State of Maine v. George Jaime, 2015 ME 22 (Me. 2015).
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State of Maine v. George Jaime, 2015 ME 22 (Me. 2015). “§ 1092(2) (2014) (affirmative defense to violation of condition of release); 17 M.R.S. § 1033(3) (2014) (affirmative defense to the crime of animal fighting); 17-A M.”
State v. LaVallee-Davidson, 26 A.3d 828 (Me. 2011). “The Legislature has expressly designated certain affirmative defenses to some crimes.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17, § 1033(3) — 2 cases
State of Maine v. George Jaime, 2015 ME 22 (Me. 2015). “§ 1092(2) (2014) (affirmative defense to violation of condition of release); 17 M.R.S. § 1033(3) (2014) (affirmative defense to the crime of animal fighting); 17-A M.”
State v. LaVallee-Davidson, 26 A.3d 828 (Me. 2011). “The Legislature has expressly designated certain affirmative defenses to some crimes.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.