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Delegates hear bill to expand penalties for harming emergency response animals
Summary
Delegate Dylan Baylor told the House Judiciary Committee HB563 would extend legal protections and new misdemeanors for intentionally harassing, injuring or killing emergency response animals, including search‑and‑rescue dogs; law‑enforcement witnesses described training costs and an incident at M&T Bank Stadium.
Annapolis — Delegate Dylan Baylor asked the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 19 to give a favorable report to HB563, legislation that would expand Maryland’s legal protections for emergency response animals and create new misdemeanor offenses for intentionally interfering with or injuring them. Baylor said the change would extend coverage beyond K‑9s owned by law‑enforcement agencies to include search‑and‑rescue dogs directed by government agencies.
The bill’s supporters included Maryland State Police handlers and union representatives who described the training,…
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