The Pennsylvania General Assembly has voted unanimously to make possession of animal fighting paraphernalia a crime. The bill, H.B. 164, would amend the state animal cruelty law, 18 PA. C.S. Sec. 5511, to make it a misdemeanor of the 3rd degree to knowingly possess animal fighting paraphernalia broadly defined as “any device, implement, object, facility, space or drug used, or intended to be used, for animal fighting, to train an animal for fighting or in furtherance of animal fighting.”
If the bill becomes law, it will give law enforcement a strong tool to stop animal fighting.
Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery County) is the sponsor. The bill now moves to the state senate. Find your PA state senator here and call or write (letters or faxes are best) and urge your state senator to vote yes on H.B. 164.