New Animal Fighting Law Passed By Montgomery County Lawmaker

A new bill designed to further curb animal fighting in Pennsylvania has been passed into law, and local lawmakers and leaders that sponsored the motion are working to promote the good news.

What was once House Bill 164, and is now Act 24 of 2015, was drafted by Pennsylvania State Rep. Todd Stephens, a Hatboro-Horsham High School graduate and North Wales-based lawmaker.

While animal fighting itself has long been illegal in the Keystone State, the new measure will take further steps that will help law enforcement catch - and prosecute - individuals who host the illicit practice.

“Under the new law, animal fighting paraphernalia is defined as any device, implement, object, facility, space or drug used, or intended to be used, for animal fighting or to train an animal for fighting,” said Stephens. “An example of such an object is a razor-sharp gaff that is attached to a rooster’s legs to cause greater damage to its opponent in a cockfight.”

Stephens added that the law also clarifies exactly what “animal fighting paraphernalia” is, so that those who use legitimate tools for animal training will not be wrongfully prosecuted.

The bill was supported by the Humane Society, and Kristen Tullo, the Pennsylvania state director of the society, joined Stephens at a press conference to discuss the measure.