Rhode Island House approves bill that allows police dogs to receive emergency medical care

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island House approved legislation Tuesday that would allow police dogs injured in the line of duty to receive emergency medical care on scene.

“[Police dogs] absolutely deserve to have all the necessary emergency treatment if they get hurt in the line of duty, and no EMT should have to decline to help them or face any kind of repercussion for helping to save their lives,” said Rep. David Bennett, who’s one of the sponsors of the bill.

A similar bill already signed into law in Massachusetts called “Nero’s Law.” It’s named after Yarmouth K-9 Nero, who was shot along with his handler Officer Sean Gannon, while serving an arrest warrant.

Gannon, a New Bedford native, was killed but Nero survived.

The Rhode Island version of the bill would allow injured police dogs to receive EMT care and taken to a veterinary hospital by ambulance. Under the current law, only people get that type of care.

The bill now heads to the Senate.