Sponsors (147)
Introduced June 12, 2025 by Donald J. Bacon · Last progress June 12, 2025
The bill strengthens tools to stop animal fighting and protect minors by enabling private suits, clarifying definitions, and curbing interstate trafficking, but it raises significant financial liability and legal risks for individuals and businesses and creates potential state–federal enforcement tensions.
Children and teens (under 16) are barred from being caused to attend animal fighting events, reducing minors' exposure to animal cruelty and violent spectacles.
Private citizens and local actors can bring suit to enjoin animal fighting and may recover attorney and expert fees, giving communities a stronger tool to stop illicit operations when agencies do not act.
Clarifying the statutory definition of 'rooster' (Gallus domesticus older than 6 months) and prohibiting interstate transport and use of postal/interstate services for roosters helps law enforcement and prosecutors apply the law more consistently and reduces cross-jurisdictional trafficking that facilitates animal fighting.
Individuals and property owners face significant financial risk: civil fines up to $5,000 per violation and potential seizure of real property used to facilitate violations could impose large monetary and property losses on defendants.
The ban on attending, promoting, or broadcasting animal fighting (including wagers and coverage) creates legal risk for small businesses, broadcasters, venues, and individuals who might inadvertently promote or cover events.
Procedural requirements (60 days' pre-notice to the Secretary and local law enforcement for citizen suits) plus expanded federal criminal and civil roles in an area traditionally policed by states could delay private enforcement, allow evidence to be concealed, and create state–federal friction and legal complexity for local authorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands the Animal Welfare Act to ban sponsoring, exhibiting, attending, and gambling on animal fighting (including roosters); adds private civil suits, fines, and property seizure authority.
Makes it illegal under the Animal Welfare Act to sponsor, exhibit, attend, or gamble on animal fighting ventures (including events involving roosters) and expands federal enforcement tools. It defines “rooster,” clarifies interstate transport and advertising prohibitions, creates a private civil right to sue to stop violations, authorizes fines and property seizure tied to violations, and preserves state and local laws unless they directly conflict with the federal rule.