A bill was approved yesterday by the North Carolina House Local Government Committee that would expand the laws allowing law enforcement officers to adopt the animals they worked with once the animals are retired.
In 2015, a law was passed on this issue, but it only applied to the City of Raleigh and Mecklenburg County. Now, House Bill 1009, sponsored by Rep. Gail Adcock of Wake County, would expand this law to include law enforcement in other Wake County municipalities, including Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Knightdale and Zebulon. The bill is expected to be considered by the House as early as Monday, May 16.
The American Kennel Club supports House Bill 1009, which will ensure the lifelong care of these animals who, along with their handlers, provide invaluable services to these communities. Specifically, it will allow city councils to donate the animal to the officer or employee who had custody and control of it during its service. This allows the handler to continue to ensure the animal’s care and wellbeing and it honors the continued companionship and trust that is built between a handler and dog while serving the community.
AKC encourages North Carolina residents, particularly in affected municipalities, to contact their State Representative in support of House Bill 1009. To find the name and contact information for your State Representative, visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center and type your address in the “Find Your Elected Officials box” on the right-hand side of the home page.
For more information, contact AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.