HB 341 and HB 23 are bills introduced to redefine animal fighting penalties, making consequences worse for animal abusers. These bills change animal injuries and animal fighting charges to be more severe. These laws are actively protecting animals in Utah, and Utahns must follow suit.
Utahns need to take more steps to protect our animals from abuse.
Animal abuse in Utah
Utah has had statistically high rates of animal abuse and abandonment. In 2022, Utah was ranked the fifth-worst state for animal protection laws, according to an annual report by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. This ranking was determined due to Utah’s lack of protection laws, which HB 341 and HB 23 both aim to change.
In January 2026, a home in Ogden was found to be hoarding 35 dogs, including 11 adult dogs and 24 puppies. After being found with a search warrant by the Ogden Police Department, the owners opted to keep two of the adult dogs and released the other 33 animals to animal control.
Stories of animal abuse, animal hoarding, and animal abandonment aren’t new for Utah. But the severity of the abuse needs to be reflected in the criminal charges abusers face.
Provo’s rooster fighting ring
Rooster fighting, or cockfighting, is a cruel “sport” in which razor blades, known as “gaffs,” are attached to roosters’ legs. They’re then put in a fighting pit, called the cock pit, where the roosters will fight to the death. These fights can last a few minutes to half an hour, and while roosters don’t always die in these fights, they suffer severe injuries as a result.
These roosters, called gamecocks, are specifically bred to be large and aggressive. Gamecocks that are not killed or grievously injured during fights suffer. They frequently live in squalor, tied to posts or in a small wooden hut. These birds are also often injected with drugs like steroids. Before fights, gamecocks are put in small boxes with no light or stimuli, so they’re more sensitive and aggressive.
The gaffs tied to these birds are so sharp that some gamecock handlers have been killed by their own birds. Common bird injuries include punctured lungs, pierced eyes and broken lungs. Gamecock rings spread disease rapidly, with birds being transported across state lines. Their injuries are often left untreated, contributing to the spread of disease.
In 2025, a huge cockfighting ring was found in Provo, Utah. This ring had 323 gamecocks bred for fighting, and officers found over 50 dead roosters throughout the home. Provo officers obtained a warrant to inspect the home via drone, then got a second warrant to enter the home. Inside the house, officers found 50 to 100 people betting on the fight. These betters immediately fled, and 17 people were arrested for facilitating the fights.
After arresting all 17 participants, police officers found 56 dead roosters placed in trash bags and bins. Officers found a “winning board” with names of participants written on it, and needles that were used to inject the birds with steroids. They also found a box of razor blades used as the gaffs for the gamecocks.
All 17 arrested participants were charged with class B misdemeanors for game fowl fighting. Seven faced charges of aggressive animal cruelty, which is a class A misdemeanor.
All gamecock fighting is a horrific mistreatment of roosters. They die slowly and suffer for the entirety of their life. HB 341 and HB 23 would make the charges of the Provo fighting ring facilitators more severe, changing the charges to felonies instead of simple misdemeanors for such horrific cruelty.
Reporting animals can save children
Cross-reporting animal abuse can save fellow Utahns. As animal abusers rarely only abuse animals, prosecuting animal abusers can open the door for discovering child and domestic abuse. The FBI found that 16% of abusers start with animals before moving on to humans.
A 1998 study in the Journal of Emotional Abuse found that 71% of abused women with companion animals had their animals abused or threatened as well. 90% of these crimes were also witnessed by children.
In 2018, the National Sheriff’s Association reported that animal abuse and cruelty are often a precursor to assaults, domestic violence, and homicide. Animals regularly serve as the “gateway drug” for abusers and murderers, before they move on to harming people.
Many, likely all, serial killers began their murders by mutilating animals first. Edmund Kumper began torturing cats at the age of 13. Jeffery Dahmer started torturing animals at 10. Charles Manson tortured and sacrificed animals for satanic sacrifices.
Recognizing animal abuse can prevent the abuse of people and save those who are being abused. Heightening the consequences of animal abuse and animal fighting charges makes it easier for law enforcement to stop abuse.
Lowering the rates of animal abuse in Utah is important for animals and all Utahns. As many of my pieces emphasize, animals are Utahns too, and they are deserving of safety and comfort. Raising the consequences for animal abusers, including abuse by animal fighting, can prevent animal abuse and protect Utahns from abusers.
Throughout my research for this article, I was brought to tears by the amount of gamecock fighting tutorials, resources and paraphernalia I came across. I found links to buy cockfighting gaffs. I found tutorials on how to train gamecocks to be better fighters. I found a purchasing place for the drugs frequently used to make gamecocks aggressive. Gaffs and steroids used for cockfighting are illegal to purchase and use, but how easy they are to find and purchase solidifies the true importance of HB 341. Rooster fighting is a cruel act of animal abuse that no animal should endure. Increasing consequences for rooster fighting is the first step to stopping this horrific sport.
Report animal abuse when you see it. Utahns stand together, animal and human.
