WY: Wyoming
Summary: In Wyoming, permanently disabling or killing a police, fire or SAR dog, or a police horse, is a felony with up to 10 years and $10,000 plus restitution (§ 6-5-211, HB 195, 2007). Two bills failed: HB 233 (2023), EMS transport and care, and HB 57 (2017, "Nyx's Law"), a reckless harm misdemeanor. Nothing was found on vests, retirement or retired care.
Body armor
- None found.
Medical & insurance
- No statute was found. Wyo. Stat. § 33-30-203 exempts unpaid emergency aid from vet licensing.
Retirement & service limits
- None found.
Post retirement care
- None found.
Penalties for harming police animals
- Wyo. Stat. § 6-5-211. Knowingly, willfully and without lawful cause permanently disabling or killing a police dog, fire dog, SAR dog or police horse is a felony: up to 10 years and/or $10,000, plus restitution. Enacted by HB 195 (2007), HEA 0044, eff. July 1, 2007.
- Gap: there's no lesser offense for injuries that aren't permanent.
Pending or failed bills
- HB 233 (2023), "Transportation and care of injured police dogs," Rep. Allemand. Would have let EMS transport and treat injured police dogs, with immunity. Died in committee (returned under House Rule 5-4, Feb. 7, 2023).
- HB 57 (2017), "Nyx's Law," Rep. Bovee. Would have made reckless or criminally negligent injury or death of a police, fire or SAR animal a misdemeanor. Do Pass failed 3-6 (Feb. 3, 2017).
Sources
- § 6-5-211: https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-6/chapter-5/article-2/section-6-5-211/
- HB 195 (2007): https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2007/HB0195 ; enrolled HEA 0044: https://wyoleg.gov/2007/Bills/HB0195.pdf
- HB 233 (2023): https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2023/HB0233
- HB 57 (2017): https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2017/HB0057
- K9 Medic map: https://www.k9medic.com/k9-laws/