Alabama governor signs law protecting K-9s, police horses

Ala. governor signs law protecting K-9s, police horses

The bill will criminalize harassing or interfering with the duties of the animal or the handler

By Sebastian Kitchen

Montgomery Advertiser

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Surrounded by some of Alabama’s top canine cops and rescue dogs, Gov. Robert Bentley signed a bill on Wednesday aimed at protecting those animals used in law enforcement.

His bill, which goes into effect in August, will criminalize harassing or interfering with the duties of the animal or the handler, and assaulting, injuring, killing or attempting to kill the dogs and other animals such as horses used in law enforcement.

“These dogs are very important, not only in police work, but in rescue,” Bentley said. “They’re well-trained, and we need to make sure they’re protected. In Alabama, we didn’t truly have a law to protect them like they do in other states.”

 

VIDEO LINK: http://bcove.me/1gxzpx48

 

 

Source: http://www.policeone.com/K-9/articles/6263389-Ala-governor-signs-law-protecting-K-9s-police-horses/