§13A-11-261. Harassment of, interference with etc., duties of police animals, search and rescue animals, or handlers; causing physical harm or death; entering containment area; restraining, taunting, endangering, etc.

(a) Any person who intentionally and knowingly causes, attempts to cause, or causes another person to harass, interfere, or obstruct a police animal or search and rescue animal being used by a handler in lawfully performing duties or causes harassment, interference, or obstruction of a handler in lawfully performing his or her duties is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) Any person who intentionally and knowingly causes or attempts to cause physical harm to a police animal or search and rescue animal which results in no long-term damage or disfigurement of the animal and any temporary loss of service of the animal does not exceed 30 calendar days, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(c) Any person who intentionally and knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical harm, theft, or death of a police animal or search and rescue animal is guilty of a Class C felony.

(d) Any person who intentionally and knowingly enters a containment area of a police animal or search and rescue animal without the consent of the handler, causes or attempts to cause any item or substance to enter the containment area without the consent of the handler, or who releases a police animal or search and rescue animal without the consent of the handler, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(e) An owner or keeper of a dog or other animal, who fails to reasonably restrain the dog or animal from taunting, tormenting, chasing, approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or attempting to bite or otherwise endanger a police animal or search and rescue animal, is responsible for any violation of this article in the same manner as if he or she knowingly caused or attempted to cause the violation.

(Act 2013-421, p. 1677, §2.)