US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 49

Enforcement of animal fighting prohibitions

(a)

In General .—

Whoever violates subsection (a)(1), (b), (c), or (d) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, for each violation.
(b)

Attending an Animal Fighting Venture .—

7 U.S.C. 2156Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)(A) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act () shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, for each violation.
(c)

Causing an Individual Who Has Not Attained the Age of To Attend an Animal Fighting Venture 16.—

7 U.S.C. 2156Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)(B) of section 26 () of the Animal Welfare Act shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both, for each violation.

Pub. L. 110–22, § 2(a)121 Stat. 88Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14207(b)122 Stat. 1462Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664Pub. L. 113–79, title XII, § 12308(b)(2)128 Stat. 991Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12616(d)132 Stat. 5016(Added , , ; amended , , ; , title XIV, § 14207(b), , , 2224; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 2156 of Title 7Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act, referred to in text, is , Agriculture.

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by were repealed by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–3342018—Subsec. (a). substituted “(d)” for “(e)”.

Pub. L. 113–792014— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, substituted “subsection (a)(1),” for “subsection (a),”, and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(b)2008—, substituted “5 years” for “3 years”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–334section 12616(e) of Pub. L. 115–334section 2156 of Title 7Amendment by effective on the date that is one year after , see , set out as a note under , Agriculture.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of Title 7Amendment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Agriculture.