Tougher penalties for killing police animals approved

Sometimes legislative remedies are overreactions, but sometimes they're not. I'm not sure exactly where I stand on this one, but I think my desire to protect the dogs outweighs any thought that this might be overkill. Anyone who intentionally kills a police dog, first of all, is probably a pretty bad character to begin with and second, is just about as likely to kill a police officer as well.

The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - Someone who willfully kills a K-9, seeing-eye dog or other law enforcement or assistance animal would be guilty of a felony and could serve prison time under a bill given final legislative approval Monday night. .... The bill was filed by Sen. A.B. Swindell, D-Nash, after last year's death of Danny, a K-9 police dog in Rocky Mount. The dog was shot and killed while chasing a suspect wanted on gun and cocaine possession charges.

This story certainly tips me in the direction of book-throwing - for a K9 officer to kill his own dog because he didn't perform up to par in a competition is on the same level as killing a child.

Miami-Dade police sergeant charged in death of K-9