Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 1.djvu/472

 90 STAT. 422

Penalties. Investigations.

Warrant.

Costs, recovery.

Definitions.

^ntiill,

PUBLIC LAW 9 4 - 2 7 9 — A P R. 22, 1976 " (c) I t shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly use the mail service of the United States Postal Service or any interstate instrumentality for purposes of promoting or in any other manner furthering an animal fighting venture except as performed outside the limits of the States of the United States. " (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this section, the activities prohibited by such subsections shall be unlawful with respect to fighting ventures involving live birds only if the fight is to take place in a State where it would be in violation of the laws thereof. " (e) Any person who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, for each such violation. " (f) The Secretary or any other person authorized by him shall make such investigations as the Secretary deems necessary to determine whether any person has violated or is violating any provision of this section, and the Secretary may obtain the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the Treasury, or other law enforcement agencies of the United States, and State and local governmental agencies, in the conduct of such investigations, under cooperative agreements with such agencies. A w a r r a n t to search for and seize any animal which there is probable cause to believe was involved in any violation of this section may be issued by any judge of the United States or of a State court of record or by a United States magistrate within the district wherein the animal sought is located. Any United States marshal or any person authorized under this section to conduct investigations may apply for and execute any such warrant, and any animal seized under such a w a r r a n t shall be held by the United States marshal or other authorized person pending disposition thereof by the court in accordance with this paragraph (f). Necessary care including veterinary treatment shall be provided while the animals are so held in custody. Any animal involved in any violation of this section shall be liable to be proceeded against and forfeited to the United States at any time on complaint filed in any United States district court or other court of the United States for any jurisdiction in which the animal is found and upon a judgment of forfeiture shall be disposed of by sale for lawful purposes or by other humane means, as the court may direct. Costs incurred by the United States for care of animals seized and forfeited under this section shall be recoverable from the owner of the animals if he appears in such forfeiture proceeding or in a separate civil action brought in the jurisdiction in which the owner is found, resides, or transacts business. " (g) For purposes of this section— " (1) the term 'animal fighting venture' means any event which involves a fight between at least two animals and is conducted for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment except that the term 'animal fighting venture' shall not be deemed to include any activity the p r i m a r y purpose of which involves the use of one or more animals in h u n t i n g another animal or animals, such as waterfowl, bird, raccoon, or fox h u n t i n g; " (2) the term 'interstate or foreign commerce' means— " (A) any movement between any place in a State to any place in another State or between places in the same State through another State; or " (B) any movement from a foreign country into any State; " (3) the term 'interstate instrumentality' means telegraph, telephone, radio, or television operating in interstate or foreign commerce:

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