MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2012 Regular Session

To: Judiciary, Division B

By: Senator(s) Hill, Tindell, Collins, Gandy, Harkins, Doty, Smith, Jackson (11th)

Senate Bill 2504

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-41-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE AUTOMATIC REPEAL ON THE LAW PROHIBITING THE STAGING OF CANINE-HOG FIGHTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 97-41-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     97-41-18.  (1)  For the purposes of this section, "hog" means a pig, swine or boar.

     (2)  It is unlawful for any person to organize or conduct any commercial event commonly referred to as a "catch" wherein there is a display of combat or fighting among one or more domestic or feral canines and feral or domestic hogs and in which it is intended or reasonably foreseeable that the canines or hogs would be injured, maimed, mutilated or killed.

     (3)  It is unlawful for any person to organize, conduct or financially or materially support any event prohibited by this section.

     (4)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to any competitive event in which canines trained for hunting or herding activities are released in an open or enclosed area to locate and corner hogs, commonly referred to as a "bay event," and in which competitive points are deducted if a hog is caught and held.

     (5)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful hunting of hogs with canines or the use of canines for the management, farming or herding of hogs which are livestock or the private training of canines for the purposes enumerated in this subsection provided that such training is conducted for the field using accepted dog handling and training practices and is not in violation of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section.

     (6)  Any person convicted under the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), imprisoned for not more than six (6) months, or both.

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     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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