The LEO K9 Protection Act amends federal law to increase criminal penalties for harming police animals, particularly dogs and horses used in law enforcement and military operations. Anyone who injures or kills a police animal using a deadly or dangerous weapon faces up to 15 years in prison and fines. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to develop guidance within 180 days for emergency medical services personnel on how to care for injured police dogs in the field, and to issue regulations within 240 days allowing paramedics and emergency medical technicians to transport injured police dogs to veterinary facilities and provide emergency medical care. The legislation covers animals working for federal, state, county, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as those in military service, but includes a protection for people who provide good-faith emergency veterinary care to injured police animals.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.