Section 597.5 Of Title 14. Malicious Mischief 594-625c From California Penal Code >> Title 14. >> Part 1.
597.5
. (a) Any person who does any of the following is guilty of a
felony and is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h)
of Section 1170 for 16 months, or two or three years, or by a fine
not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both that fine
and imprisonment:
(1) Owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any dog, with the intent
that the dog shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with
another dog.
(2) For amusement or gain, causes any dog to fight with another
dog, or causes any dogs to injure each other.
(3) Permits any act in violation of paragraph (1) or (2) to be
done on any premises under his or her charge or control, or aids or
abets that act.
(b) Any person who is knowingly present, as a spectator, at any
place, building, or tenement where preparations are being made for an
exhibition of the fighting of dogs, with the intent to be present at
those preparations, or is knowingly present at that exhibition or at
any other fighting or injuring as described in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a), with the intent to be present at that exhibition,
fighting, or injuring, is guilty of an offense punishable by
imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by a fine
not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both that
imprisonment and fine.
(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any of the following:
(1) The use of dogs in the management of livestock, as defined by
Section 14205 of the Food and Agricultural Code, by the owner of the
livestock or his or her employees or agents or other persons in
lawful custody thereof.
(2) The use of dogs in hunting as permitted by the Fish and Game
Code, including, but not limited to, Sections 4002 and 4756, and by
the rules and regulations of the Fish and Game Commission.
(3) The training of dogs or the use of equipment in the training
of dogs for any purpose not prohibited by law.