Killing police dog or horse now a felony

Governor Bill Haslam has signed into law a bill which increases the penalty for killing a police dog or horse from a misdemeanor to a felony. The law, named after Nashville Metro canine Aron who was shot and killed on May 14, 1998, is aimed at recognizing the value of police animals as an extension of the police force.
Canine Aron was killed after he and his handler, Terry Burnett, were fired upon by a bank robber in Nashville. After positioning himself between the robber and his handler, Aron received three bullet wounds, one in the chest and two in the neck, resulting in his death later at the veterinarian. Burnett was shot in the foot and fragments hit his back but he remains a Metro police K-9 officer and supports the new legislation.
Aron was a two year old German Shepherd was trained to run toward gun blasts.
Burnett is a 29-year old veteran of the Metro police and recognized Aron sacrificed his life in order to save the lives of police officers.
“What he did saved police officers’ lives,” Burnett said. “This bill is named Aron’s Law, but this is for every dog that’s ever been killed in the line of duty, injured in the line of duty, and it’s for every K-9 working out here now.”
The force behind the bill was K-9 Officer Brett Spivy of Franklin who said the training and bond created between an officer and police dogs are different than those formed between individuals and family pets. The animals are trained to go toward danger, instead of running from it, with the intent of protecting their handler.
Spivy currently works with a German Shepherd canine named Axel and said the dogs are more than animals…they are partners.
“He is my partner. Period. In law enforcement, where having a partner that you know has your back and a partner who will lay down his or her life for you without any question whatsoever, is paramount,” Spivy said. “These dogs are trained to do just that.”