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Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia classifies search and rescue dogs as law enforcement officers for assault protections
Last action · February 10, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: Jonathan Pinson and 4 others
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 5419 classifies police canine units and community search and rescue group dogs as law enforcement officers when actively working or resting in the field, extending the same legal protections and penalties for assault as those applied to human officers.
The measure establishes criminal penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies for injuring or attacking working rescue dogs, and permits handlers to use necessary force to defend the animals.
- West Virginia Code §30-29-1 establishes definitions for law enforcement training and certification across state, county, and municipal agencies. context
- West Virginia Code §61-2-10b governs crimes of malicious assault, unlawful assault, battery, and assault against specialized public workers and law enforcement personnel. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Canine units and search and rescue dogs
Working canines receive the legal status of law enforcement officers regarding victim protection and allowable defense force.
Law-enforcement officers and search and rescue members
Handlers are authorized to use necessary force to defend their working canines using the same standards as defending another human officer.
Individuals committing crimes against law enforcement personnel
Offenders attacking working rescue animals face the same felony and misdemeanor assault penalties as those applied to crimes against human officers.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which animals are covered under this bill?
When does the animal's law enforcement status apply?
Are search and rescue dogs considered state employees under this measure?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Judiciary
- Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Law Enforcement Definitions to Search and Rescue Animals
The measure bridges emergency management search and rescue volunteers and official police canine units under unified criminal statutes for assault protections.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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