CHAPTER 153-A EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND TRAUMA SERVICES
Operational Canine Trauma Transport
Section 153-A:37
153-A:37 Operational Canines; Hospital Treatment. –
I. In this section:
(a) "Law enforcement officer" or "police officer" shall have the same meaning as defined in RSA 106-L:2, IV; provided that for purposes of this section, the term shall also include members of the national guard acting under orders while in active state service ordered by the governor under RSA 110-B:6.
(b) "Operational canine" means a canine owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency, or fire department, in the course of the department or agency's work, including a police canine, search and rescue canine, scent detection canine, comfort canine, or other canine that is in use by a county, municipal, or state law enforcement agency.
(c) "Official duties" shall include, but are not limited to, line of duty incidents, deployments, trainings, certifications, and related transportation.
II. Any ambulance owned and/or operated by any public or private entity may provide transport to an operational canine to a veterinary care facility only if the animal is ill or has been injured in the course of their official duties and no human needs transport or treatment. Emergency medical care providers may request that a law enforcement officer assist with securing the operational canine and accompanying them during the transport.
III. All licensed emergency medical service units and affiliated emergency medical care providers approved to administer treatment and who are in the performance of their duties and in good faith render emergency first aid to an ill or injured operational canine, shall not be personally liable as a result of rendering such aid or services unless it is established that the injury or the death was caused willfully, wantonly, or recklessly or by gross negligence on the part of the emergency medical care provider. In the case of both a licensed emergency medical service unit and an emergency medical care provider, as a result of transporting an operational canine to a veterinary care facility, shall not be liable to a veterinary care facility for its expenses if, under emergency conditions, they cause the admission of such animal to said veterinary care facility.