Rhode Island § 4-19-24 - Animal Care

§ 4-19-24. Humane transportation of K-9 partners.

(a) For the purposes of this section, “police dog” means: a dog owned by a police department or police agency of the state of Rhode Island or any political subdivision thereof, that is used by the department or agency for official duties.

(b) EMS personnel may provide emergency treatment to a police dog injured in the line of duty and transport the police dog by ambulance to a veterinary care facility equipped to provide emergency treatment to dogs; provided, however, that EMS personnel shall not transport an injured police dog if providing transport would inhibit their ability to provide emergency medical attention or transport to a person requiring such services.

(c) The department of health, in consultation with the Rhode Island veterinary medical association, the Rhode Island association of fire chiefs, the Rhode Island state association of firefighters, at least two (2) practicing, licensed emergency medical technicians, the international brotherhood of police officers’ K-9 officer, the fraternal order of police’s K-9 officer, and the department of state police’s K-9 unit, shall develop policies and procedures that include, but are not limited to:

(1) Appropriate training of EMS personnel to provide police dogs basic level first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and life-saving interventions, including, but not limited to, administering naloxone; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall authorize the provision of advanced life support care to a police dog;

(2) Safe handling procedures for injured police dogs, including, but not limited to, the use of a box muzzle and response coordination with a law enforcement official trained in handling police dogs;

(3) Identification of veterinary facilities that provide emergency treatment for injured police dogs;

(4) Decontamination of stretchers, the patient compartment, and any contaminated medical equipment after a police dog has been transported by ambulance or EMS vehicle; and

(5) Sterilization of the interior of an ambulance or EMS vehicle before being returned to human service, including, but not limited to, sanitizing all allergens and disinfection to a standard safe for human transport.

(d) The department of health may grant a waiver from this section if the department determines that compliance poses a safety risk to the public. The department shall develop regulations regarding applications and issuance of such a waiver.