Senate Bill 238 aims to enhance the legal protections for search and rescue dogs by expanding existing laws that currently protect police and fire animals. The bill defines a "search and rescue dog" as one that has been trained or is being trained by a recognized agency to locate lost or missing individuals and victims of disasters. The proposed amendments to the law include the insertion of language that explicitly includes search and rescue dogs in the list of animals protected from harassment, intimidation, and abuse.

Under the revised law, individuals who engage in prohibited actions against search and rescue dogs, as well as police and fire animals, will face penalties that range from a Class B forfeiture to Class A misdemeanors, Class I felonies, or Class H felonies, depending on the severity of the offense and whether it results in injury or death to the animal. The bill also clarifies that necessary training actions for these animals are exempt from the prohibitions. Overall, this legislation seeks to ensure the safety and well-being of search and rescue dogs, recognizing their critical role in emergency response efforts.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 951.095(title), 951.095, 951.095(1)(intro.), 951.095(2)(b), 951.18(2m), 951.18