{"data":{"id":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-578.173","jurisdiction":"us-mo","citation":"Mo. Rev. Stat. § 578.173","heading":"Baiting or fighting animals — penalty.","body":"1. A person commits the offense of baiting or fighting animals if he or she:\n(1) Baits or fights animals;\n(2) Permits baiting or animal fighting to be done on any premises under his or her charge or control;\n(3) Promotes, conducts, or stages a baiting or fight between two or more animals;\n(4) Advertises a baiting or fight between two or more animals;\n(5) Collects any admission fee for a baiting or fight between two or more animals;\n(6) Knowingly attends the baiting or fighting of animals;\n(7) Knowingly sells, offers for sale, ships, or transports any animal which has been bred or trained to bait or fight another animal;\n(8) Owns or possesses any of the cockfighting implements, commonly known as gaffs and slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached to the leg of a gamecock; or\n(9) Manufactures, sells, barters, or exchanges any of the cockfighting implements, commonly known as gaffs and slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached to the leg of a gamecock.\n2. The offense of baiting or fighting animals is a class E felony.","path":["Title XXXVIII - CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS","Chapter 578 - Miscellaneous Offenses"],"source_url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=578.173","current_through":"2026 legislative session (floor)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T22:23:29Z","sha256":"ceb0210b9cf71aafc146049b6aff8eccb86908cfed6a71b204a7da939efdc9f5","source_id":"us-mo","stale":false,"prev":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-578.170","next":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-578.176"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}