GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Governor Walker was at Green Bay Police Headquarters Friday to sign new legislation that changes a procedure for law enforcement dogs if they bite a person.
On the rare case that a police K-9 has to use force to apprehend a suspect, officers will no longer have to follow the protocol of a regular citizen.
“Here and across the state you’ve got dogs who are already vaccinated, they’re healthy, they’re observed and so to have them have to be taken out of service via quarantine just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” said Walker.
Walker says it’s an example of “good common sense.”
Officer Joe Merrill is the handler of K9 Neo.
Neo’s been a Patrol Dog with the Green Bay Police Department since 2010.
Merrill says explains why this law makes so much sense.
“We keep a very documented vet history of our dogs where they’re constantly checked up on. They’re up to date on all their shots and all their immunizations and especially on rabies,” Merrill said.
Before this legislation, if a police K9 bit a person, the animal had to visit the vet within 24 hours, another 10 days later, and finally a 3rd visit.
Although this protocol officially changes for police K9’s today, procedures do not change for citizens of the public who own dogs.
