Providing protection for search and rescue group dogs

HB 5419 amends West Virginia law to include search and rescue dogs from community groups under the West Virginia Emergency Management Search and Rescue Program in the definition of "law-enforcement officer" while they are actively working with human officers or search and rescue members. This change allows community search and rescue members to use reasonable force to protect these dogs, similar to how they would defend a human officer. The bill clarifies that the dogs are not state employees and do not receive employee protections or administrative status. The legislation aims to provide legal safeguards for these animals during their operational duties.