FL S0452

Requires each law enforcement agency to provide lifetime veterinary care to police dogs after they retire from service and are transferred to a former handler or adopter.

Defines "veterinary care" to include annual wellness examinations, vaccines, parasite prevention, illness and disease testing and treatment, medication, emergency care, surgeries, euthanasia, and cremation services, all provided by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary specialist.

Defines "police dog" as any dog owned or employed by a law enforcement agency for detecting criminal activity, enforcing laws, apprehending offenders, or detecting missing persons in disaster situations.

Defines "law enforcement agency" as state agencies or political subdivisions responsible for crime prevention and law enforcement whose officers are empowered to conduct criminal investigations and make arrests.

Effective date: July 1, 2011.