1997 Minnesota Code
Chapters 609 - 624 Crimes, Criminals
Chapter 609 Criminal Code
Section 609.596 Killing or harming a police, corrections or arson dog.

609.596 Killing or harming a police, corrections or arson dog.

Subdivision 1. Felony. Whoever intentionally and without justification causes the death of a police dog or an arson dog when the dog is involved in law enforcement, fire, or correctional investigation or apprehension, or the dog is in the custody of or under the control of a peace officer, as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), or an employee of a correctional facility, as defined in section 241.021, subdivision 1, clause (5), is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both. In lieu of a fine, the court may order a defendant convicted under this subdivision to pay restitution to the affected agency to replace the police dog or arson dog, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.

Subd. 2. Gross misdemeanor. Whoever intentionally and without justification causes substantial or great bodily harm to a police dog or an arson dog when the dog is involved in law enforcement, fire, or correctional investigation or apprehension, or the dog is in the custody of or under the control of a peace officer or an employee of a correctional facility, as defined in section 241.021, subdivision 1, clause (5), is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Subd. 3. Definition. As used in this section, "arson dog" means a dog that has been certified as an arson dog by a state fire or police agency or by an independent testing laboratory.

HIST: 1987 c 167 s 1; 1996 c 408 art 3 s 35