H-68                 _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 184

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Madsen, Rasmussen, Ebersole and Holm

Read first time 1/20/87 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to dog fighting; amending RCW 16.52.117; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 9, chapter 114, Laws of 1982 and RCW 16.52.117 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Any person who does any of the following is guilty of a ((gross misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not to exceed one year, or by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars, or by both fine and imprisonment)) class C felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW:

          (a) Owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any dog with the intent that the dog shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with another dog;

          (b) For amusement or gain causes any dog to fight with another dog, or causes any dogs to injure each other; or

          (c) Permits any act in violation of (a) or (b) of this subsection to be done on any premises under his charge or control, or aids or abets any such act.

          (2) Any person who is knowingly present, as a spectator, at any place or building where preparations are being made for an exhibition of the fighting of dogs, with the intent to be present at such preparations, or is knowingly present at such exhibition or at any other fighting or injuring as described in subsection (1)(b) of this section, with the intent to be present at such exhibition, fighting, or injuring, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

          (3) Nothing in this section may prohibit the following:

          (a) The use of dogs in the management of livestock, as defined by chapter 16.57 RCW, by the owner of the livestock or the owner's employees or agents or other persons in lawful custody of the livestock;

          (b) The use of dogs in hunting as permitted by law; or

          (c) The training of dogs or the use of equipment in the training of dogs for any purpose not prohibited by law.