Section 609.596 Killing or Harming Public Safety Dog
609.596 KILLING OR HARMING PUBLIC SAFETY DOG.
Subdivision 1.Felony.
It is a felony for any person to intentionally and without justification cause the death of a police dog, a search and rescue dog, or an arson dog when the dog is involved in law enforcement, fire, or correctional investigation or apprehension, search and rescue duties, or the dog is in the custody of or under the control of a peace officer, a trained handler, or an employee of a correctional facility. A person convicted under this subdivision may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both. In lieu of a fine, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution to the owner to replace the police dog, search and rescue dog, or arson dog, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.
Subd. 2.Gross misdemeanor.
It is a gross misdemeanor for any person to intentionally and without justification cause substantial or great bodily harm to a police dog, search and rescue dog, or an arson dog when the dog is involved in law enforcement, fire, or correctional investigation or apprehension, search and rescue duties, or the dog is in the custody of or under the control of a peace officer, a trained handler, or an employee of a correctional facility.
Subd. 3.Definitions.
As used in this section:
(1) "arson dog" means a dog that has been certified as an arson dog by a state fire or police agency or by an independent testing laboratory;
(2) "correctional facility" has the meaning given in section 241.021, subdivision 1, paragraph (f);
(3) "peace officer" has the meaning given in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c); and
(4) "search and rescue dog" means a dog that is trained to locate lost or missing persons, victims of natural or other disasters, and human bodies.
History:
1987 c 167 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 3 s 35; 1999 c 77 s 1; 2001 c 7 s 87