Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 959
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 959.15 (2026)

Animal fights

✓ laws through the 2026 session (checked Sept. 2026)
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Effective:
March 31, 2021
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 24 - 133rd General Assembly
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(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.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1984–2018 · leading case: State v. Wear, 472 N.E.2d 778 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1984).
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State v. Wear, 472 N.E.2d 778 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1984). · cites it 16× “In addition, a large number of people were arrested and charged with violating R.C. 959.15, the Ohio animal fights statute.”
State v. McCallion, 605 N.E.2d 1289 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1992). · cites it 15× “In July 1990, a complaint was filed against twenty-five persons for a violation of R.C. 959.15, the Ohio animal fights statute, a fourth degree misdemeanor.”
State v. Taylor, 2016-Ohio-7953. · cites it 4× “See former R.C. 959.15. At that time, the general animal fighting statute provided: “Any person who knowingly purchases a ticket of admission to such place, or is present thereat, or witnesses such spectacle, is an aider and abettor.”
State v. Gaines, 580 N.E.2d 1158 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1990). · cites it 6× “While dogfighting was once included within the general animal fights statute (R.C. 959.15), the legislature, by extracting dogfighting from the general fight statute, intended to give differential and separate treatment to what it obviously perceived to be an activity of grave…”
State v. McCullough, 2018-Ohio-4499, 114 N.E.3d 444. · cites it 2× “99 : the addition of a subsection (I) providing that "[w]hoever violates division (B) or (C) of section 959.15 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony and shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars.”
In re 730 Chickens, 599 N.E.2d 828 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 1991). · cites it 2× “” On May 11, 1991, approximately seven hundred thirty chickens were seized pursuant to a search warrant as evidence of cockfighting, in violation of R.C. 959.15, and gambling, in violation of R.”
State v. Robinson, 541 N.E.2d 1092 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1989). “The statute also failed to require a culpable mental state for those charged with being present at the scene of a cockfight.”
State v. Vogelsong, 612 N.E.2d 462 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 1992). “40(B) reads as follows: “No person shall knowingly make or cause to be made a false or misleading statement or representation for use in obtaining reimbursement from the medical assistance program.”
State v. Bryson, 605 N.E.2d 1284 (Ohio Ct. App. 11th Dist. 1992). · cites it 15× “In July 1990, a complaint was filed against twenty-five persons 1 for a violation of R.C. 959.15, the Ohio animal fights statute, a fourth degree misdemeanor.”
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