---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2156"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2156"
heading: "Animal fighting venture prohibition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2156"
units:
  - "Chapter 54 — Transportation, Sale, and Handling of Certain Animals"
---

# §2156. Animal fighting venture prohibition

- (a) **Sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in, attending, or causing an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend, an animal fighting venture—**
  - (1) **Sponsoring or exhibiting—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) in an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture.
  - (2) **Attending or causing an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) to—
    - (A) knowingly attend an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture; or
    - (B) knowingly cause an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture.
- (b) **Buying, selling, delivering, possessing, training, or transporting animals for participation in animal fighting venture—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) to knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive any [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) for purposes of having the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) participate in an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture.
- (c) **Use of Postal Service or other interstate instrumentality for promoting or furthering animal fighting venture—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) to knowingly use the mail service of the United States Postal Service or any instrumentality of interstate [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c) for commercial speech for purposes of advertising an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g), or an instrument described in [subsection (d)](#d), for use in an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture, promoting[^1] or in any other manner furthering an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture except as performed outside the limits of the [States](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d) of the United States.
- (d) **Buying, selling, delivering, or transporting sharp instruments for use in animal fighting venture—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) to knowingly sell, buy, transport, or deliver in [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-3) a knife, a gaff, or any other sharp instrument attached, or designed or intended to be attached, to the leg of a bird for use in an [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture.
- (e) **Investigation of violations by Secretary; assistance by other Federal agencies; issuance of search warrant; forfeiture; costs recoverable in forfeiture or civil action—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) or any other [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) authorized by him shall make such investigations as the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) deems necessary to determine whether any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) has violated or is violating any provision of this section, and the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) may obtain the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the Treasury, or other law enforcement agencies of the United States, and [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d) and local governmental agencies, in the conduct of such investigations, under cooperative agreements with such agencies. A warrant to search for and seize any [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) which there is probable cause to believe was involved in any violation of this section may be issued by any judge of the United States or of a [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d) court of record or by a United States magistrate judge within the district wherein the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) sought is located. Any United States marshal or any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) authorized under this section to conduct investigations may apply for and execute any such warrant, and any [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) seized under such a warrant shall be held by the United States marshal or other authorized [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) pending disposition thereof by the court in accordance with this subsection. Necessary care including veterinary treatment shall be provided while the [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) are so held in custody. Any [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) involved in any violation of this section shall be liable to be proceeded against and forfeited to the United States at any time on complaint filed in any United States district court or other court of the United States for any jurisdiction in which the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) is found and upon a judgment of forfeiture shall be disposed of by sale for lawful purposes or by other humane means, as the court may direct. Costs incurred for care of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) seized and forfeited under this section shall be recoverable from the owner of the [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) (1) if he appears in such forfeiture proceeding, or (2) in a separate civil action brought in the jurisdiction in which the owner is found, resides, or transacts business.
- (f) **Definitions—** In this section—
  - (1) the term “[animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture” means any event, in or affecting [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-3), that involves a fight conducted or to be conducted between at least 2 [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment, except that the term “[animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting venture” shall not be deemed to include any activity the primary purpose of which involves the use of one or more [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) in hunting another [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g);
  - (2) the term “instrumentality of interstate [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c)” means any written, wire, radio, television or other form of communication in, or using a facility of, interstate [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c);
  - (3) the term “[State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d)” means any [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d) of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States;[^2]
  - (4) the term “[animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g)” means any live bird, or any live mammal, except man.
- (g) **Relationship to other provisions—** The conduct by any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) of any activity prohibited by this section shall not render such [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) subject to the other sections of this chapter as a [dealer](/usc/7/2132.md?p=f), [exhibitor](/usc/7/2132.md?p=h), or otherwise.
- (h) **Conflict with State law—**
  - (1) **In general—** The provisions of this chapter shall not supersede or otherwise invalidate any such [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d), local, or municipal legislation or ordinance relating to [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) fighting ventures except in case of a direct and irreconcilable conflict between any requirements thereunder and this chapter or any rule, regulation, or standard hereunder.
  - (2) **Omitted—**
- (i) **Criminal penalties—** The criminal penalties for violations of subsection [(a)](#a), [(b)](#b), [(c)](#c), or [(d)](#d) are provided in [section 49 of title 18](/usc/18/49.md).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be preceded by “or”.
[^2]: So in original. The word “and” probably should appear.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–544, § 26, as added Pub. L. 94–279, § 17, Apr. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 421; amended Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, §§ 10302(a), 10303(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 491, 492; Pub. L. 110–22, § 3, May 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 88; Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14207(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1461; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIV, § 14207(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2223; Pub. L. 113–79, title XII, § 12308(b)(1), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 990; Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12616(a)–(c), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 5015, 5016.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Section is comprised of section 26 of Pub. L. 89–544, as added by Pub. L. 94–279. Subsec. (h)(2) of section 26 of Pub. L. 89–544, as added by Pub. L. 94–279, amended section 3001(a) of Title 39, Postal Service.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12616(a)(1)(A), substituted “It” for “Except as provided in paragraph (3), it”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12616(a)(1)(B), struck out par. (3). Text read as follows: “With respect to fighting ventures involving live birds in a State where it would not be in violation of the law, it shall be unlawful under this subsection for a person to sponsor or exhibit a bird in the fighting venture only if the person knew that any bird in the fighting venture was knowingly bought, sold, delivered, transported, or received in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of participation in the fighting venture.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12616(b), substituted “(d)” for “(e)”.

Subsecs. (d) to (h). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12616(a)(2), (3), redesignated subsecs. (e) to (i) as (d) to (h), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (d) read as follows: “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c), the activities prohibited by such subsection shall be unlawful with respect to fighting ventures involving live birds only if the fight is to take place in a State where it would be in violation of the laws thereof.”

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12616(c), substituted “(d)” for “(e)”.

Pub. L. 115–334, § 12616(a)(3), redesignated subsec. (j) as (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (h).

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12616(a)(3), redesignated subsec. (j) as (i).

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–79, § 12308(b)(1)(A), substituted “Sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in, attending, or causing an individual who has not attained the age of 16 to attend,” for “Sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in” in heading.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 12308(b)(1)(B)(i), (ii), substituted “Sponsoring or exhibiting” for “In general” in heading and “paragraph (3)” for “paragraph (2)” in text.

Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 12308(b)(1)(B)(iii), (iv), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3).

2008—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(1)(A), struck out “, if any animal in the venture was moved in interstate or foreign commerce” before period at end.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(1)(B), which directed amendment of par. (2) by substituting “State” for “state” in heading, was executed by making the substitution for “states” in heading, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(2), inserted heading and substituted “possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive any animal for purposes of having the animal participate” for “transport, deliver, or receive for purposes of transportation, in interstate or foreign commerce, any dog or other animal for purposes of having the dog or other animal participate”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(3), inserted heading and inserted “advertising an animal, or an instrument described in subsection (e), for use in an animal fighting venture,” after “for purposes of”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(4), inserted heading.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(5), inserted heading.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(6), inserted heading and, in last sentence, struck out “by the United States” after “Costs incurred”, inserted “(1)” after “owner of the animals”, and substituted “proceeding, or (2) in” for “proceeding or in”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(7), inserted subsec. heading, in introductory provisions, substituted “In this section” for “For purposes of this section”, in par. (1), substituted “any event, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, that involves a fight conducted or to be conducted between at least 2 animals for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment,” for “any event which involves a fight between at least two animals and is conducted for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment”, redesignated pars. (3) to (5) as (2) to (4), respectively, in par. (4), substituted “mammal” for “dog or other mammal” and period for “; and” at end, and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “the term ‘interstate or foreign commerce’ means—

“(A) any movement between any place in a State to any place in another State or between places in the same State through another State; or

“(B) any movement from a foreign country into any State or from any State into any foreign country;”.

Subsec. (g)(6). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(11), redesignated subsec. (g)(6) as (h).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(11), redesignated subsec. (g)(6) as (h), inserted heading, and substituted “The” for “the”.

Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(8), redesignated subsec. (h) as (i).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(8), (9), redesignated subsec. (h) as (i) and inserted subsec. and par. (1) headings. Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j).

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(a)(8), (10), redesignated subsec. (i) as (j) and inserted heading.

2007—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–22, § 3(1), substituted “instrumentality of interstate commerce for commercial speech” for “interstate instrumentality”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–22, § 3(2), substituted “such subsection” for “such subsections”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–22, § 3(3), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: “Any person who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section shall be fined not more than $15,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, for each such violation.”

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 110–22, § 3(4)(A), struck out “or animals, such as waterfowl, bird, raccoon, or fox hunting” after “hunting another animal”.

Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 110–22, § 3(4)(B), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “the term ‘interstate instrumentality’ means telegraph, telephone, radio, or television operating in interstate or foreign commerce;”.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 110–22, § 3(5), added subsec. (i).

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–171, § 10302(a)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: “It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in any animal fighting venture to which any animal was moved in interstate or foreign commerce.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–171, § 10302(a)(2), substituted “deliver, or receive” for “or deliver to another person or receive from another person”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–171, § 10302(a)(3), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this section”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–171, § 10303(a)(1), inserted heading and substituted “$15,000” for “$5,000” in text.

Subsec. (g)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–171, § 10303(a)(2), inserted “or from any State into any foreign country” before semicolon.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“United States magistrate judge” substituted for “United States magistrate” in subsec. (e) pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12616(e), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 5016, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section, section 49 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 3001 of Title 39, Postal Service] shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2018].”

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10302(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 492, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [May 13, 2002].”

Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10303(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 492, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] takes effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [May 13, 2002].”