New senate canine bills passed in Delaware

DELAWARE.- Police departments across Delaware are seeing support for their canines, through two senate bills that were signed earlier this month.

Senior Corporal Leonard DeMalto with Delaware State police said senate bills 117 and 176 offer new initiatives that will help canines during and after their service.

“With these acts going into effect, it’s a huge relief for our handlers who already have a pretty stressful job to begin with,” Senior Corporal DeMalto said. It’s great to see support from our legislators when it comes to this.”

For senate bill 117, Delaware Senator Brian Pettyjohn said it aims to protect canines that are hurt while on duty and grants civil immunity to EMS personnel who render care to the dogs.

“This is just making it clear that if there’s a canine, if they’re injured in Delaware, they’re able to get that care,” Senator Pettyjohn said.

And in senate bill 176, senator Pettyjohn said owners of retired police canines will receive up to $1,500 annually, for veterinary care.

“There’s a certain service life that they have before they go into retirement, just like a person,” Senator Pettyjohn said. “This provides that ongoing veterinary care for that canine officer, just like our officers here have health care continue after they’re done with the force.”

Senior Corporal DeMalto said these new bills will help better support the dogs that help protect the state.

“I think it’s great that the legislators are showing that ‘Hey, we know that you guys and girls are putting in so much effort and time and money into this [and] we want to make sure that your partners are taken care of,’ DeMalto said.