Sponsors (4)
The bill strengthens legal protections and medical care authority for police and military working animals—likely improving survival and deterrence—but does so by raising penalties and creating new federal definitions and EMS responsibilities that could increase costs, legal uncertainty for civilians and local agencies, and operational burdens on EMS systems.
Law enforcement K-9s will receive standardized federal EMS guidance, clearer on-scene care protocols (including veterinarian consultation), and explicit authority for EMS to treat and transport injured police dogs, improving immediate survival and recovery for working animals and giving EMS clearer direction.
Attacks on police animals will carry stronger federal legal protections and higher penalties, creating a greater deterrent and signaling increased legal protection for handlers and agencies.
Veterinarians and good-faith rescuers who provide emergency care to injured police animals will be protected from prosecution, encouraging timely treatment from bystanders and veterinary providers.
The bill increases criminal penalties (prison terms up to 15 years) for harming police animals, which could raise incarceration costs and impose greater financial burdens on taxpayers.
A broader or ambiguously-applied federal definition of protected 'police animals' and the phrase 'assisting a Federal agency' could extend federal criminal exposure to civilians, volunteers, and state/local personnel, creating risks of unexpected federal prosecution and legal uncertainty.
Requiring EMTs and paramedics to treat and potentially transport injured police animals adds training, liability, and protocol responsibilities for EMS providers and may impose costs on local agencies.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Raises federal penalties for attacks on police animals, expands the definition of protected police animals, and requires EMS guidance and rules to allow emergency care and transport of on-duty police dogs.
Introduced July 25, 2025 by Aaron Bean · Last progress July 25, 2025
Raises federal criminal penalties for attacks on police animals (dogs and horses), expands the legal definition of “police animal,” and exempts good-faith emergency veterinary treatment. It also directs the Department of Transportation (through NHTSA) to publish EMS guidance for treating injured police dogs within 180 days and to issue regulations within 240 days allowing on-duty police dogs to be transported to veterinary clinics and permitting EMTs/paramedics to give emergency care. The bill applies to animals serving federal, state, county, and local agencies (including those assisting federal agencies and animals used by the Department of Defense), clarifies who may provide emergency care, and requires federal guidance and rulemaking to support EMS response and transportation of injured police dogs while on duty.