EMTs to be able to treat police dogs under new bill

Sometimes, those we elect to office deserve our praise. Not often, but sometimes. So, kudos to our state representatives in Wisconsin. They are actually working together to solve a problem. Our state senators and representatives have crafted legislation that would give our first responders legal immunity when treating animals at emergency scenes. In a sign of just how bad the opiod crisis has become in this state, trained police drug dogs are increasingly at risk of getting sick when their handlers make drug arrests. Police dogs trained to hit on drugs, are sometimes getting a hit of those drugs. One Wisconsin officer told lawmakers her dog, Bane, wolfed down a cinnamon roll during a drug raid. She was afraid her dog might overdose if the pastry was tainted. More officers are carrying the anti-overdose drug Narcan in case they have to use it on their dogs. Lawmakers are holding public hearing on the legislation that would allow EMT’s to treat sick drug dogs. The bill has bipartisan support, and is moving quickly toward a vote. It is sad that our police dogs are in danger, but good to see our lawmakers cut through the red tape and do the right thing.