Canine Volunteer Protection Act of 2006

The Canine Volunteer Protection Act of 2006 (H.R. 4764) seeks to expand federal legal protections for animals involved in public safety efforts. Under current federal law, it is a crime to willfully harm or kill a "police animal," which generally includes dogs and horses used by law enforcement agencies. This bill would update that definition to include animals used in search and rescue missions, even if they are not part of a traditional police unit.

For citizens and volunteer handlers, this change would ensure that search and rescue dogs receive the same federal legal safeguards as police K-9s. By establishing federal penalties for those who harm these animals, the bill aims to protect the canine teams that assist in locating missing persons and responding to disasters.