Section 578.173 - Baiting or fighting animals - penalty1. A person commits the offense of baiting or fighting animals if he or she: (1) Baits or fights animals;(2) Permits baiting or animal fighting to be done on any premises under his or her charge or control;(3) Promotes, conducts, or stages a baiting or fight between two or more animals;(4) Advertises a baiting or fight between two or more animals;(5) Collects any admission fee for a baiting or fight between two or more animals;(6) Knowingly attends the baiting or fighting of animals;(7) Knowingly sells, offers for sale, ships, or transports any animal which has been bred or trained to bait or fight another animal;(8) Owns or possesses any of the cockfighting implements, commonly known as gaffs and slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached to the leg of a gamecock; or(9) Manufactures, sells, barters, or exchanges any of the cockfighting implements, commonly known as gaffs and slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached to the leg of a gamecock.2. The offense of baiting or fighting animals is a class E felony.Amended by 2014 Mo. Laws, SB 491,s A, eff. 1/1/2017.