Oklahoma § 21-1700 - Bear wrestling - Horse tripping

§ 21-1700. Bear wrestling - Horse tripping

A. It is unlawful for any person to:

1. Promote, engage in, or be employed at a bear wrestling

exhibition or horse tripping event;

2. Receive money for the admission of another person to any

place where bear wrestling or horse tripping will occur;

3. Sell, purchase, possess, or offer a horse for any horse

tripping event;

4. Sell, purchase, possess, or train a bear for any bear

wrestling exhibition;

5. Subject a bear to alteration in any form for purposes of

bear wrestling including, but not limited to, removal of claws or

teeth, or severing tendons; or

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 21. Crimes and Punishments

6. Give any substance to a bear, inject any substance into a

bear, or cause a bear to ingest or inhale any substance for the

purposes of bear wrestling.

B. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall,

upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by

imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a

fine of not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or by both

such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the court may require the

violator to make restitution and reimbursements to the state, any of

its political subdivisions, or to any society which is incorporated

for the prevention of cruelty to animals for housing, feeding, or

providing medical treatment to any animals used or intended for use

in violation of this section.

C. Upon the arrest of any person pursuant to any provision of

this section, the arresting law enforcement agency or animal control

office shall have authority to seize and take custody of all animals

in the possession of the arrested person which are the basis of an

arrest pursuant to the provisions of this section. Upon conviction,

the court shall have authority to order the forfeiture of all

animals seized which are the basis of the conviction pursuant to the

provisions of this section. Any animals ordered forfeited may be

placed in the custody of a society which is incorporated for the

prevention of cruelty to animals.

D. As used in this section, "horse tripping" means to cause an

animal of the equine species to fall or lose its balance with the

use of a wire, pole, stick, rope or other object. The term does not

include the lawful laying down of a horse for medical purposes or

for the purposes of identification.

Added by Laws 1996, c. 197, § 1, emerg. eff. May 20, 1996.