Police K-9s won't face quarantine under new law
By the Journal Times
RACINE — A new state law could keep more law enforcement K-9s on the street and out of the veterinarian office after biting offenders.
Gov. Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 58 into law Friday in Green Bay. The law updates procedures for law enforcement dogs that face quarantine and multiple exams after they stop offenders by biting them.
“This is a common-sense change that saves the state time and money,” Walker said in a statement.
Previous state law stated that if a dog had bitten a person, the dog must be quarantined unless the dog bites the person while performing law enforcement duties and is immunized against rabies. But the law stated the dog must be confined to not performing law-enforcement functions until it can be examined by a veterinarian on three separate occasions.
This new law eliminates the requirements that a law-enforcement dog that has bitten a person be examined by a veterinarian and that the dog be confined. But it requires the law-enforcement agency to make the dog available for examination at any reasonable time and, if the dog exhibits abnormal behavior, to notify the local health department.
Racine Police K-9 officer David Arvai supports the change.
Arvai said Racine Police K-9s are not only trained in narcotics and weapon detection, and tracking searches, but also in apprehension that requires contact.
“These dogs are trained to apprehend people,” Arvai said. “They’re trained to bite and hold until the person is in custody. It happens and all of our dogs have been through the process.”
The Police Department operates five law enforcement dogs. Arvai handles K-9 Titan, who’s been with the department since 2012 and has bitten about four subjects requiring the vet checks. Arvai said another K-9, Dozer, who works a busy third shift, has bitten subjects 10 times.
“Now our dogs won’t need evaluation after a bite,” Arvai said. “We do vet checks the day after the occurrence and then 10 days later. They’re looking for any immediate effects of the incident or any sign of rabies. They all have current rabies shots.”
It’s a law change that Walker said made sense.
“Law enforcement dogs are highly trained and their handlers know them well enough to know if there are changes in their health or behavior,” Walker said.
Currently 19 other states don’t require veterinary testing after a K-9 bite, according to Walker.