Katie Krell
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill allowing first responders to transport and treat any injured K9. Senate Bill 388 was signed on Friday, June 18, at the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Before SB 388 was passed, paramedics were not allowed to provide aid to K9s in any way, no matter how severely they were injured. The new bill allows K9s to be either treated on scene or transported to a veterinarian clinic if it will not interfere with the treatment or transportation of any person on the scene. This can increase the chances that K9s injured in the line of duty are able to survive and return to work when healed.
K9 dogs can provide so much assistance to first responders, trained for jobs such as finding missing persons, tracking criminals and locating drugs or explosives. Governor DeSantis commented, “They use their unique ability to save lives and to protect the people of our communities throughout Florida, and in some cases, they’re the ones to first put their lives on the line as they work to apprehend suspects in high intensity situations.” Because of SB 388, we are now able to better protect the animals that protect us.
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