With your help, two Connecticut Senate bills supported by the American Kennel Club (AKC) that seek to further protect police and working K9s can advance.
SB 339 requires restitution by anyone that injures or kills a police K-9 or volunteer search and rescue dog. Current law makes anyone intentionally injuring one of these dogs while performing their duties guilty of a class D felony. SB 339 would require that person to also pay the cost of incurred veterinary services and, if the dog is no longer able to perform its duties, the costs and expenses incurred in the purchase and training of a replacement dog. Last week, the Connecticut General Assembly sent the bill back to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration; but today, the Committee again voted to place SB 339 on the Senate calendar. Click here to learn more about SB 339.
SB 427 seeks to (1) increase the penalty for intentionally injuring a police K-9 or dog in a volunteer canine search and rescue team; (2) establish a penalty for annoying, teasing, tormenting, or harassing any police K-9 confined in a motor vehicle; (3) allow emergency medical services personnel to provide emergency treatment and transportation to an injured police K-9 under certain circumstances; and (4) establish a grant program to provide K-9 officers with body armor. SB 427 has already received a favorable Judiciary Committee vote and sits on the Senate calendar. Click here to learn more about SB 427.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Connecticut residents are strongly encouraged to electronically register your support for both bills by using this form to identify and contact your member of the Connecticut State Senate. In the subject line, insert “Support SB 339 and SB 427 Protecting Police and Working K9s”. Include your contact information and consider these talking points:
- Connecticut kennel clubs have partnered with AKC Reuinte’s “Adopt a K9 Cop Grant” program to donate 14 K9 officers to Connecticut police departments.
- Please support the breeders, trainers, and handlers of working dogs, which enrich the lives of humans by performing a variety of valuable services such as drug, bomb, and arson detection; and tracking to locate missing persons or fugitives.
- Hundreds of Police K-9s contribute to our national security and protect the peace and security of communities.
- Anyone who injures or kills one of these valuable dogs ought to be held accountable.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in Connecticut, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.