MT: Montana
Summary: Montana has only a misdemeanor level crime for harming a police dog (up to 1 yr / $5,000), and it doesn't cover horses. No state law was found on vests, medical care, retirement, or retired-K9 care.
Body armor
- None found (no statute or bill).
Medical & insurance
- None found. No law lets EMS treat or transport police dogs. The K9 Medic state map lists Montana as "no relevant laws identified" for first responder care of K9s.
Retirement & service limits
- None found. There's no statute on handler adoption or rights, and no age or service cap.
Post retirement care
- None found.
Penalties for harming police animals
- MCA 45-8-209, Harming a police dog. Purposely or knowingly shooting, killing or injuring a police dog used by an officer, or under an officer's direction for law enforcement or search and rescue, carries a fine up to $5,000, up to 1 year in state prison, or both. It covers dogs only, not horses. Enacted 1985; last amended 1997.
Pending or failed bills
- No 2025 session bills found on K9 retirement, care or vests. Montana's legislature meets in odd years, so the next regular session is 2027.
Sources
- MCA 45-8-209: https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0450/chapter_0080/part_0020/section_0090/0450-0080-0020-0090.html
- HB 106 (2015) coverage: https://flatheadbeacon.com/2015/01/13/montana-bill-protect-police-horses-introduced/ and https://thehorse.com/111165/proposed-montana-law-would-protect-police-horses/
- K9 Medic state law map: https://www.k9medic.com/k9-laws/
- ALDF Montana summary (2018): https://aldf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Animal-Protection-Laws-of-Montana-2018.pdf