Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019

This Act creates stronger penalties for people who attack or injure service animals like police dogs and horses. Before this law, attackers could only be charged with criminal damage - treating animals like property. The Act makes it a specific crime to cause unnecessary suffering to service animals while they are working. It covers animals helping police, prison officers, fire services, search and rescue teams, and the armed forces. The maximum penalty is five years in prison. The law recognizes that service animals are more than property and deserve special protection because of their important work helping keep people safe.

• 1Makes attacking service animals a specific crime, not just criminal damage
• 2Covers police dogs and horses, prison service animals, and military animals
• 3Includes animals working with fire services and search and rescue teams
• 4Maximum penalty is five years in prison
• 5Recognizes service animals as more than just property under the law