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Animal fighting

s.8Animal Welfare Act 2006

Causing, organising, taking part in, betting on, attending or otherwise being involved in a fight between a protected animal and another animal or a human.

Animal fighting · Animal Welfare Act 2006, s.8Card 192 / 195

Points to prove

s.8(1)(a)Caused an animal fight to take place, or attempted to
s.8(1)(b) to (e)Or knowingly received money for admission, knowingly publicised a proposed fight, gave information to enable or encourage attendance, or made or accepted a bet on a fight
s.8(1)(f)Or took part in an animal fight
s.8(1)(g) to (i)Or possessed anything designed or adapted for use in connection with a fight, intending it to be so used; kept or trained an animal for use in connection with a fight; or kept premises for use for a fight
s.8(2)Or was present at an animal fight without lawful authority or reasonable excuse

Key definitions

Animal fight – s.8(7): an occasion on which a protected animal is placed with an animal, or with a human, for the purpose of fighting, wrestling or baiting.
Protected animal – s.2: an animal of a kind commonly domesticated in the British Islands, under the control of man, or not living in a wild state. Only one animal in the fight needs to be protected.

Defences

Lawful authority or reasonable excuse – available for presence at a fight (s.8(2)).

Good to know

s.8(3) to (5) would create offences of supplying, publishing, showing or possessing for supply a video of an animal fight, but they have not been brought into force in England and Wales. Only s.8(1), (2), (7) and (8) are in force.
Typical cases include dog fighting, cock fighting and badger baiting with dogs. Badger offences may also be charged under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
Constables can seize an animal involved in a fighting offence (s.22). On conviction the court can order destruction of the animal (s.38), forfeiture of equipment (s.40) and disqualification (s.34).
Either way, with a 5-year maximum, for offences committed on or after 29 June 2021. Earlier offences are summary only.

Legislation: Animal Welfare Act 2006, s.8 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Either way
Maximum penalty: 5 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Animal fighting: questions people ask

What are the points to prove for animal fighting?

1. Caused an animal fight to take place, or attempted to 2. Or knowingly received money for admission, knowingly publicised a proposed fight, gave information to enable or encourage attendance, or made or accepted a bet on a fight 3. Or took part in an animal fight 4. Or possessed anything designed or adapted for use in connection with a fight, intending it to be so used; kept or trained an animal for use in connection with a fight; or kept premises for use for a fight 5. Or was present at an animal fight without lawful authority or reasonable excuse

What is the maximum sentence for animal fighting?

5 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)

Is animal fighting a summary, either-way or indictable offence?

Animal fighting is an either-way offence: it can be tried in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court.

What Act and section is animal fighting?

Animal fighting is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, s.8.

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