Texas: Retired police dogs had to be sold or destroyed under state law. Voters just changed that.
Source: Washington Post
Retired police dogs had to be sold or destroyed under state law. Voters just changed that.
By Karin Brulliard
11/6/2019, 6:00:40 a.m.
Police dogs spend all day working with handlers. They typically live together.
But when law enforcement K-9s in Texas have retired, they havent always gone home with their handlers. Laws in the nations second-largest state treated the dogs as surplus public property that, like firearms or police cars taken out of commission, needed to be auctioned off, donated to charity or destroyed.
That changed Tuesday, when voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that allows dogs, horses or other law enforcement animals to be adopted at no cost by their handlers or other qualified caretakers.
It was backed by the Sheriffs Association of Texas, whose members were regularly perplexed by how to handle dog retirement legally complying with laws that viewed the animals as surplus and ethically, in ways that made sense to officers who view K-9 partners as family and departments who mark dogs retirements or deaths with ceremonies.
Its the right thing to do, said Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner, who chairs the legislative committee for the sheriffs association. Theres been a lot of great dogs with great handlers, and the right thing should have been done by them. But its better late than never.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/11/06/retired-police-dogs-had-be-sold-or-destroyed-under-state-law-voters-just-changed-that/
CaliforniaPeggy
(152,102 posts)democratisphere
(17,235 posts)All the Texas police animals should have a great retirement too! Thankful!
braddy
(3,585 posts)to buy them from the rescue centers.
RainCaster
(11,546 posts)While police dogs are great animals, they are not for novices. I have raised 5 generations of GSDs, several as Shutzhund, and I would not want to see a police dog go to a doggy neophyte.
This is a great change for those who have served a community and needs some final years of rest. Good for Tejas!
Susan Calvin
(2,099 posts)mysteryowl
(7,752 posts)When given the chance, democracy works. Maybe we should put EVERYTHING on a ballot for the public to vote on!
Rhiannon12866
(222,238 posts)I guess this is good news - geez!!
LiberalFighter
(53,473 posts)Why didn't they make part of their state code?
Eugene
(62,658 posts)It's a power of the purse function. Until now, police dogs and horses have been considered property just like a patrol car. This has been a problem in other states too.
Per Propsition 10' ballot summary:
https://www.alamovotesblue.org/uploads/1/2/8/9/128992682/pros_and_cons_proposition_10.pdf
Background
Law enforcement animals are considered property of the state agency, county, municipality
etc.
The Constitution requires all surplus governmental property to be auctioned, donated, or
destroyed.
The proposed amendment would allow the animal to be transferred to its former caretaker at
no cost.
The U.S. constitution gives Congress that authority over federal property, and they changed the law for federal dogs in 2000.
Susan Calvin
(2,099 posts)There are a lot of things in the Constitution that don't belong in that kind of document. Detail things . We vote on a raft of amendments pretty much every year.
orleans
(34,968 posts)glad voters changed that.
shame on them for creating a law to kill these animals . absolutely horrifying and heartless!
Democreator
(11 posts)I was appalled when I read that before voters voted for that Constitutional Amendment, that said retired police animals could be destroyed. Animals have feelings also.