Odd Laws Still on the Books
Standing at a cockfight without knowing it, and a pet after a cruelty conviction: real Kansas sections
Lists of strange state laws get passed around with no section number attached. Every one below has one, read from the Kansas Statutes.
Who handles this in Kansas: Johnson County Bar Association, Find a Lawyer; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Kansas directory.
| The law | What it says | Breaking it |
|---|---|---|
| The lawBeing at a cockfight | What it saysEntering or staying where a cockfight is happening is a crime whether or not the person knows a cockfight is going on. | Breaking itClass B nonperson misdemeanor |
| The lawSpurs and gaffs | What it saysOwning spurs, gaffs or other gear worn by a gamecock to make it deadlier, meaning to use them in a fight, is a crime. | Breaking itClass A nonperson misdemeanor |
| The lawA pet after a conviction | What it saysAnyone convicted of dog fighting or cruelty to animals may not own or keep an animal for five years, with no proof of intent needed. | Breaking itClass B nonperson misdemeanor |
| The lawLitter pickup | What it saysEvery littering conviction comes with picking up litter, on top of the fine. | Breaking itSee the littering page |
Many laws that sound strange are city or county ordinances rather than state law; this page covers only the Kansas Statutes. Whether a particular act broke one of these sections is a question for a licensed Kansas attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- K.S.A. 21-6417 — Unlawful conduct of cockfighting; unlawful attendance of cockfighting; unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia
- K.S.A. 21-6415 — Illegal ownership or keeping of an animal
- K.S.A. 21-5815 — Criminal littering
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kansas attorney.