In a disaster, service dogs are assigned to search for victims and comfort them. A new bill passed Monday by the Alaska House of Representatives intends to assist those dogs when it’s their turn to need help.
If approved by the Senate and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, House Bill 70 would allow ambulance crews to aid injured these dogs in a crisis and while they’re being transported to a veterinarian.
The aid would be limited to dogs used by law enforcement and those working search and rescue cases. In cases where both people and dogs are injured, the bill requires people to be helped first.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, explained on the House floor that under current law, paramedics and emergency medical technicians are legally forbidden from helping animals while on the job because doing so would be considered veterinary care, which is regulated by law.
An ordinary Alaskan could legally help an injured dog, Schrage explained, but not a trained medical professional.
“These are working dogs that go through serious risk to their safety in order to serve us, to help us be more safe, to be rescued in an emergency, and to be able to provide emergency care on scene, I think, would be an incredible thing,” Schrage said.
The bill was inspired by the death of Alaska State Trooper canine Rico, who was shot and killed during a 2017 police chase in Wasilla.
The House approved HB 70 on a 32-8 vote, with opposition coming from some legislators who cited concerns from veterinarians.
Rep. Rebecca Schwanke, R-Glennallen, said her vote against the bill was for that reason.
“We heard tremendous opposition to this bill by veterinary professionals across our state, largely because it does offer EMS personnel the opportunity to practice emergency veterinary care without proper training,” she said.
House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, referred to his decades of experience as a police officer and said he supported the bill.
“You want the person who is closest to the scene and best able to help save that animal — if the animal is shot or otherwise critically injured — to have a fighting chance,” he said. “These dogs have over $50,000 invested in just the purchase and training of the animal, and hundreds of thousands of dollars to continue to train with the canine officers. They are worth it.”
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