§711-1109.5 Intentional interference with the use of a service animal or law enforcement animal. (1) A person commits the offense of intentional interference with the use of a service animal or law enforcement animal if the person, with no legal justification, intentionally or knowingly strikes, beats, kicks, cuts, stabs, shoots, or administers any type of harmful substance or poison to a service animal or law enforcement animal while the service animal or law enforcement animal is in the discharge of its duties.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to:
(a) Accepted veterinary practices;
(b) Activities carried on for scientific research governed by standards or accepted educational or medicinal practices; or
(c) Cropping or docking as customarily practiced and permitted by law.
(3) Intentional interference with the use of a service animal or law enforcement animal is a misdemeanor.
(4) In addition to any other penalties, any person who is convicted of a violation of this section shall be ordered to make restitution to:
(a) The owner of the service animal or law enforcement animal for any veterinary bills and out-of-pocket costs incurred as a result of the injury to the service animal or law enforcement animal; and
(b) The person, entity, or organization that incurs the cost of retraining or replacing the service animal or law enforcement animal for the cost of retraining or replacing the service animal or law enforcement animal, if it is disabled or killed.
(5) Nothing in this section is intended to affect any civil remedies available for a violation of this section.
(6) As used in this section, "service animal" shall have the same meaning as in section 347-2.5. [L 2002, c 259, pt of §1; am L 2011, c 175, §10; am L 2013, c 205, §3; am L 2018, c 217, §10]