Massachusetts bill would allow injured police K9s to be transported by EMS

A bill drafted in Massachusetts aims to see police K9s that wind up getting injured in the course of their duties transported by EMS responders.

The bill in question is S.1431, also known as “Nero’s Law,” which was reportedly introduced by Massachusetts Representative Steven Xiarhos.

The name “Nero’s Law” comes from a police K9 bearing the same namesake, who was seriously injured in a 2018 incident where K9 Nero survived, but his handler Yarmouth Police Sergeant Sean Gannon did not.

If this legislation were to come to fruition, it would afford what is described as “humane transportation of K9 partners,” by way of EMS first responders. Effectively, this bill, if passed, could enable expedited transport to needed veterinary services for K9s injured on duty.

Reportedly service dogs, accelerant-detection dogs and search-and-rescue dogs will also be included in the bill’s coverage.

K9s that wind up falling under EMS care following an incident would allow EMS responders the authority to perform life-saving measures like “opening and manually maintaining an airway,” “giving mouth-to-snout or mouth-to-barrier ventilation,” “administering oxygen” and “immobilizing fractures.”


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https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/massachusetts-bill-would-allow-injured-police-k9s-to-be-transported-by-ems/