Nearly two years after a Jefferson County K-9 was shot and killed in the line of duty, law enforcement and K-9 advocates still want stronger protections for dogs on the job — even after a law was passed ratcheting up penalties.
House Bill 23-1286 , titled “Increase Penalty Cruelty Police And Service Animals,” was signed into law on June 2, 2023.
It modified the penalties for cruelty and aggravated cruelty against both animals and service animals on a second and subsequent offense. Offenders must pay a minimum fine of $2,000 if they’re convicted of committing cruelty and aggravated cruelty against service animals like Graffit, and complete an anger management treatment program or other appropriate program…