Police Dogs and Health Insurance

Posted by Joy Butler Jul 15, 2007

I just recently read about a police dog in Richland Hills, Texas, in the Dallas area, who has been unable to work for some time because of a spinal cord infection. Hiko is a valuable partner on the street for officer Jason Baxter but the 110 lb Belgian sheepdog is not covered by the city's employee health plan. The police department itself has paid for $3500 worth of treatments but they've run out of money and the dog may need up to $10,000 worth of medical care. Police department employees and Baxter's mother have set up a fund for him. Baxter says Hiko just wants to get the bad guy and doesn't understand why he can't go to work with him anymore.

With the understandng that an assault on a K-9 officer is prosecuted the same as an assault on a human officer, I wonder why dogs are not also covered with a medical plan just as the human officer. I think they should be.;especially since their only pay is a pat on the side and a 'Good Boy'. What's your opinion? Please use the Discussion link to let us know what you think.