Arena for Animal Fighting
It is a crime in Canada to build, make, maintain or keep an arena for animal fighting, including for the crimes of cockfighting and dog fighting.
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Plain-Language Summary
Arena for Animal Fighting: If you set up a structure where animals - typically dogs or chickens - are encouraged to fight for the amusement or the betting purposes of others, you can be charged with arena for animal fightingA place used for organized fights between animals. under s.447 (1) of the Criminal CodeA federal act codifying most criminal offences in Canada. The maximum sentence for this offenceA criminal activity is five years in prison and you could be ordered to pay the costs for maintaining any animals seized during the arrest.
What Is Arena for Animal Fighting?
Section 447 (1) of the Criminal Code makes it an offence to build, make, maintain or keep an arena for animal fighting on property you own or occupy, or to allow others to build such an arena. The Code once specifically addressed the crime of cockfighting, but in 2019 this section was broadened to capture other types of animal fighting, recognizing that dogs are often used in these illegal fights. In addition, s. 445.1(1) of the Code makes it an offence to encourage, aid, promote, arrange, assist at, receive money for or take part in the fighting or baiting of animals or birds, or to train, transport or breed animals or birds for that purpose.
What the Crown Must Prove
In order to secure a conviction, the Crown must show that you knowingly set up some form of arena or viewing area where animals were encouraged to fight, or that you allowed others to put such a facility on your property.
Treated as a Summary Conviction or Indictable Offence
Arena for animal fighting is considered a hybrid offenceAn offence the Crown can proceed with summarily or by indictment., meaning it can be prosecuted as an indictable offenceA more serious type of Canadian criminal offence. or a summary convictionUsed for lesser offences. You will receive a harsher sentence if you are convicted of an indictable offence.
What Is the Penalty?
If you are convicted of the indictable offence of running or facilitating an arena for the purpose of staging fights between animals, the maximum sentence is five years in jail. If the charge is treated as a summary conviction, the maximum penalty is $10,000 or a jail term of two years less a day, or both.
The court can also make an order prohibiting you from owning, having custody of or residing in the same premises as an animal or a bird during any period the court considers appropriate. On a second or subsequent offence, that period will be at least five years.
In addition, you may also be ordered to pay a person or an organization that has taken care of an animal or a bird confiscated as a result of the arrest that led to your conviction “if the costs are readily ascertainable.”
Possible Penalties
These are maximum sentences. Actual sentences depend on the facts, criminal history, and any mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
Arena for animal fighting — s. 447
HybridOn summary conviction, s. 447(2)(b) sets its own maximum: a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than two years less a day, or both — the s. 787 default does not apply. No mandatory minimum sentence. On conviction the court may also make a s. 447.1 order prohibiting owning, having custody or control of, or residing in the same premises as an animal or bird (the order is discretionary, but if made for a second or subsequent offence its duration must be at least five years) and may order restitution of an animal's care costs.
What these words mean
- Indictable
- The more serious way to prosecute an offence. It can carry higher maximum penalties.
- Summary conviction
- The less serious, usually faster way to prosecute an offence, with lower maximum penalties.
- Hybrid
- An offence the Crown can prosecute either way — by indictment or by summary conviction.
- Summary only
- Summary-only offences are prosecuted by summary conviction. The Criminal Code sets the maximum penalty in the specific offence section.
- Crown election
- The Crown prosecutor’s choice of which way to proceed on a hybrid offence.
Possible Defences and Legal Issues
Arena for Animal Fighting — s.447
Section 447 does not list a special defence in the Criminal Code. The Crown still has to prove the parts of the offence. Depending on the charge, this may mean proving that the accused “builds, makes, maintains or keeps an arena for animal fighting on premises that he or she owns or occupies”, or allowed such an arena to be built, made, maintained or kept there.
Possible issues may still depend on the facts, the evidence, and whether the Crown can prove each part of the offence. This is general legal information, not legal advice.
Common Legal Terms
Terms marked with a dotted underline in the article above are defined here and available in the full site glossary.
- Hybrid offence Glossary entry →
A hybrid offence is an offence where the Crown can choose whether to proceed by summary conviction or by indictment. The choice can affect the procedure, possible penalties, and sometimes the court where the case is heard.
- Indictable offence Glossary entry →
An indictable offence is generally a more serious type of Canadian criminal offence. Some indictable matters have higher maximum penalties and may involve different court procedures, including election about the mode of trial in some cases.
- Summary conviction Glossary entry →
Summary convictions are used for lesser offences with penalties, fines and short jail time. They reflect the majority of offences as defined in the Code.
Legal sources
The official statute section(s) this page is based on. Always confirm against the official source before relying on it.
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Criminal Code s. 447 Main offenceLast reviewed by CCH: 2026-07-05View official source ↗
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Criminal Code s. 447.1 Sentencing orders (ss. 445(2), 445.1(2), 446(2), 447(2) convictions only)Source current to: 2026-05-26View official source ↗
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Criminal Code s. 429 Wilful acts — legal justification or excuse and colour of right (Part XI)Source current to: 2026-05-26View official source ↗
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Criminal Code s. 445.1 Cruelty to animals — fighting or baitingSource current to: 2026-05-26View official source ↗
Government References
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General legal information only. Not legal advice. We do our best to keep this page accurate and up to date, but criminal law can change and every case depends on its facts. Check the review date and consult the Criminal Code or a criminal defence lawyer before relying on this information.
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Criminal Code Help explains selected Criminal Code offences and related legal concepts in plain language. The goal is to help readers understand the general meaning of the law without having to read the full statutory text.
This page is a simplified summary. It does not include every exception, definition, court interpretation, evidentiary issue, Charter issue, sentencing factor, or procedural rule that may apply in a real case.
Legal information, not legal advice
This page is general legal information only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as advice about any specific charge, investigation, court file, or personal situation.
Possible defences and legal issues depend on the facts, the evidence, the exact charge, current Canadian law, and the province or territory where the case is being handled. If you are facing a criminal charge or researching a real legal problem, speak with a criminal defence lawyer in your province or territory.