Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 20 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (§§ 20-2-101 — 20-86-113) › Subtitle 2 - HEALTH AND SAFETY (§§ 20-6-101 — 20-38-113) › Chapter 13 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (§§ 20-13-101 — 20-13-1805) › Subchapter 2 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT (§§ 20-13-201 — 20-13-219) › Section 20-13-217 - Gabo's Law - Police dogs - Injured on duty

(a)
This section shall be known and may be cited as "Gabo's Law".
(b)
(1)
An emergency medical services personnel or an emergency medical services provider may transport a police dog injured in the course of a law enforcement or correctional agency's work to a veterinary hospital or clinic if there is not a person requiring immediate medical attention or transport at the time.
(2)
During transport to the veterinary hospital or clinic, an emergency medical services personnel or an emergency medical services provider may provide emergency medical care to the police dog, including without limitation:
(A)
Opening and manually maintaining an airway;
(B)
Giving mouth-to-snout or mouth-to-barrier ventilation;
(C)
Administering oxygen;
(D)
Managing ventilation by mask;
(E)
Controlling hemorrhage with direct pressure;
(F)
Immobilizing fractures;
(G)
Bandaging;
(H)
Administering naloxone hydrochloride, if administering naloxone hydrochloride has been authorized in accordance with a written protocol established and provided by a veterinarian or in consultation with a veterinarian; or
(I)
Providing euthanasia.
(c)
An emergency medical services personnel or an emergency medical services provider who, in the course of his or her duties, provides emergency medical care or transportation to an injured police dog under this section is not liable:
(1)
For expenses related to providing emergency medical care to the police dog or for the transport of the police dog to a veterinary hospital or clinic;
(2)
Civilly or criminally for emergency medical care provided to the police dog by emergency medical services personnel or an emergency medical services provider, including without limitation all causes of action lying in tort or contract and any causes of action for damages arising from the emergency medical care provided to the police dog; or
(3)
For expenses charged by the veterinary hospital or clinic for emergency medical care or subsequent associated medical care provided to the police dog.
(d)
An emergency medical services personnel or an emergency medical services provider may request that a member of the law enforcement or correctional agency who owns or uses the police dog accompany the injured police dog during transport.
(e)
If a police dog is injured in the line of duty and requires emergency transport or emergency medical care as a result of a criminal act or episode of an individual, a court of competent jurisdiction may order a defendant whose actions were the proximate cause of the injuries to the police dog that resulted in emergency transport or emergency medical care to pay restitution to a person or entity entitled to payment or reimbursement for the expenses related to the emergency transport or emergency medical care of the police dog.
(f)
If an individual needs emergency transport or emergency medical care, the individual shall be transported and provided emergency medical care before transporting or providing emergency medical care to the injured police dog.
(g)
This section does not require the emergency transport of a police dog or prohibit a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or other person from providing emergency transport of a police dog.
Added by Act 2021, No. 790,§ 3, eff. 7/28/2021.