WV HB3147

Classifies police canines and other animals trained for law enforcement purposes as "law enforcement officers" under West Virginia law while actively working in the field or resting between assignments with a human officer

Authorizes human officers to use the same level of force to defend police animals as they would use to defend another human officer

Extends felony penalties for malicious assault, unlawful assault, battery, and assault against law enforcement officers to include crimes committed against police canines and other law enforcement animals

Malicious assault causing bodily injury to a police animal with intent to maim, disable, or kill carries 3-15 years imprisonment; unlawful assault carries 2-5 years

Specifies that police animals are not state employees and receive no administrative protections or personnel status afforded to human employees