Federal law today
The short version: no federal law requires any agency to give a police dog or horse body armor, medical insurance, a limit on working years, or care after retirement. The bills pending in Congress are voluntary grants or permitted uses of grant money.
Laws on the books
| Law | What it does | What it leaves out | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 U.S.C. 1368 | Makes it a federal crime to willfully and maliciously harm a federal police dog or horse. Up to 10 years if the animal is killed or seriously hurt. | Only covers animals of federal agencies. Punishes harm; doesn't provide care. | Cornell LII |
| Bulletproof Vest Partnership (34 U.S.C. 10531) | Grants to help agencies buy armor vests for officers. | For human officers. The program's FAQ lists K9 dogs as ineligible. | Statute, BJA FAQ |
| 10 U.S.C. 2583 (Robby's Law) | Retired military working dogs must be offered for adoption, and the former handler gets first preference. | Military dogs only. The adopter pays all vet costs afterward. | Cornell LII |
| 10 U.S.C. 994 | Lets the Defense Department set up vet care for adopted military dogs. | Says no federal funds may be used for it. | Cornell LII |
Bills in Congress now (119th Congress)
As of October 16, 2026, each of these was introduced and sent to committee, with no further action listed.
| Bill | Sponsor | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 8179, FETCH Act of 2026 | Rep. Nancy Mace | Lets state and local agencies spend federal Byrne JAG grant money on police dogs, including vet and emergency care, insurance, protective vests, and care after retirement. It permits this spending but does not require it or add money. Horses are not included. | Bill text |
| H.R. 3144, Honoring our K9 Heroes Act | Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick | Grants to nonprofits that help pay medical care for retired federal working dogs. | Bill text |
| H.R. 9664, K-9 Hero Act of 2026 | Rep. Derrick Van Orden | Grants to nonprofits for vet costs of retired federal working dogs, $5 million a year authorized. | Bill text |
| H.R. 7904, Protecting America's Working Dogs Act of 2026 | Rep. John James | Justice Department grants to nonprofits for vet care of retired federal working dogs. | Bill text |
| S. 4643, LEO K9 Protection Act | Sen. Ashley Moody | Same text as H.R. 4755: up to 15 years for harming a police dog or horse with a deadly weapon, federal guidance on EMS care for injured police dogs, and rules letting paramedics and EMTs treat them and take them to a vet. | Bill page |
| H.R. 4638, BOWOW Act | Rep. Ken Calvert | Makes noncitizens convicted of harming a police animal under 18 U.S.C. 1368 inadmissible and deportable. Penalty only. | Bill text |
| H.R. 4755, LEO K9 Protection Act | Rep. Aaron Bean | Same text as S. 4643: up to 15 years under 18 U.S.C. 1368 when a deadly weapon is used, plus rules letting paramedics and EMTs treat and transport injured police dogs. | Bill page |
Listing a bill or sponsor here does not mean they support the ARC Act.
The gap the ARC Act fills
None of these laws or bills requires armor, insurance, a cap on working years, or lifetime care for state and local police dogs and horses. The ARC Act would.