In the United States, cruelty towards police dogs will cost more and more

Several American states have already, or are in any case considering, increasing the severity of sentences for people guilty of violence against these animals. This is the case, for example, of Kansas, in the center of the country.

In Kansas, killing a police dog can already cost you a year in prison and a $5,000 fine. But the local House of Representatives, with a Republican majority, voted 107 votes to 4 to strengthen these penalties so that they increase to 5 years in prison, from the first offense and a $10,000 fine, including if you attack a police horse.

The text of the law must still be validated by the Senate. Lawmakers call it the “Bane” law, in reference to Bane, an 8-year-old Wichita sheriff’s dog who was strangled in November by a domestic violence suspect. In Missouri, the sentence would increase from 4 to 7 years in prison. South Carolina, West Virginia and Hawaii are also considering enhanced penalties. Florida already did this in 2019 by going from a maximum of 5 to 15 years in prison.

An approach that goes beyond partisan divisions

In Hawaii, the House and Senate are majority Democratic. Same thing in Colorado, where a similar bill passed the House with 52 votes in favor and 12 against. There is already a six-year prison sentence provided for by the legislation but on top of that, a $2,000 fine and payment of all animal-related expenses – veterinary care, funeral. It is estimated that training and caring for a police dog can cost up to $18,000.

There are approximately 50,000 police dogs across the country and more than 200,000 officers who work with these animals. Please note that this type of incident does not happen every day. In Colorado, there have reportedly been seven police animal cruelty convictions in the past three years. In comparison, in Rochester, New York, police officers killed 22 dogs in operations between 2015 and 2022.

However, we also heard a form of opposition. So obviously, no one says you should harm a police dog. But in Kansas, a Republican elected official believes that these discussions are a waste of time. For him, his colleagues should first work on a law banning abortion.

“Protecting babies in the womb should be a higher priority than dogs and horses.”

A Republican elected official from Kansas

at franceinfo

But above all, black elected officials recalled that historically, the police have used dogs disproportionately against minorities, during demonstrations in favor of civil rights, for example. Less than a year ago in Ohio, a black truck driver, although on his knees and hands in the air, was attacked. He had to be hospitalized. In cases like this, elected officials ask, can we really blame someone for defending themselves if they are attacked by an animal? Furthermore, the laws do not provide for anything if a passerby is bitten by mistake. And if a victim makes it to trial, the chances of losing are high because jurors generally love police dogs.