HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation sponsored by Pennsylvania Rep. Todd Stephens to protect animals from being used for illegal fighting has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.

“I want to thank the governor for understanding the harsh reality that while animal fighting in Pennsylvania is prohibited, there was no law banning the ownership or possession of the equipment used for animal fighting,” Stephens said. “This is critical as law enforcement cannot always arrive while an animal fight is in progress, but during the course of an investigation may find an offender to be in possession of equipment or implements of animal fighting.”

Act 24 of 2015 creates the offense of “possession of animal fighting paraphernalia.”

Relying on his experience as a prosecutor, Stephens drafted the law to help ensure anyone involved in animal training or other legitimate, otherwise lawful, uses isn’t wrongfully prosecuted under this new law.

Under the law, animal fighting paraphernalia is defined as any device, implement, object, facility, space, or drug used, or intended to be used, for animal fighting or to train an animal for fighting. An example of such an object is a razor-sharp gaff that is attached to a rooster’s legs to cause greater damage to its opponent in a cockfight. Possession of animal fighting paraphernalia will be graded as a third-degree misdemeanor, subjecting an offender to up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.