Tenn. law clears EMS crews to treat, transport injured police K-9s
New legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly provides a clear legal pathway for emergency medical services personnel to stabilize and transport K-9s injured in the line of duty without fear of liability or veterinary practice violations.
“The law wasn’t really clear on the medical emergency medical transport for K-9s,” state Sen. Bo Watson, R- North Chattanooga, one of the bill’s sponsors, said by phone. “When a K-9 was injured in the field of duty, police officers or handlers simply put them in their car or whatever vehicle they had available and transported them with none of the emergency medical training that is necessary to sustain life.”