Mass. Senate Passes Bill to Protect K-9s on the Job
By Will Katcher
Source masslive.com
When a police dog is injured on the job, first responders aren’t allowed to treat the wounded pup with onsite medical care. Instead, K-9 units have to be treated by a veterinarian, a delay that in the past has prevented the animals from getting speedy, possibly life-saving assistance.
That may soon be changing. A bill passed by the Massachusetts State Senate would allow first responders to provide emergency care and transportation for wounded K-9s.
Dubbed “Nero’s Law,” the legislation was named after the police dog of Yarmouth Police Sergeant Steve Gannon, a 32-year-old officer shot and killed while serving a warrant at a Barnstable home in 2018. Nero, his K-9 partner, was shot, but survived.
Under the current law, first responders could not treat Nero at the scene. He instead had to be taken to a veterinarian for emergency surgery, CBS Boston reported.
Nero’s Law would allow medical personnel to provide a variety of life-saving treatments on K-9s, including basic first aid, CPR and the anti-overdose medication naloxone. It would also allow first responders to transport the animals, something they aren’t currently allowed to do, WCVB noted. Despite having multiple ambulances at the scene of the shooting, Nero had to be taken to an animal hospital in the back of a police car.
“K-9 officers protect the men and women in law enforcement as well as the community at-large,” State Senator Mark Montigny, who introduced the bill, said in a statement. “These animals endure extreme danger from gun violence, narcotics, and even explosive materials. Allowing our emergency personnel to provide basic treatment and transport is a commonsense measure that honors their contributions across the Commonwealth.”
After passing the state senate 38-0, the bill moves on to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Thomas Latanowich, the man who shot Gannon and Nero, was later convicted of second-degree murder.
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