{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-5-54-126","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 5-54-126","heading":"Killing or injuring animals used by law enforcement or search and rescue dogs","body":"(a) Any person who: (1) Purposely kills or physically injures; (2) Purposely causes physical contact that is of a nature likely to cause physical injury to; or (3) Attempts to cause physical contact that is of a nature likely to cause physical injury to, any animal owned by or used by a law enforcement agency or any search and rescue dog upon conviction is guilty of a Class D felony. (b) A person who purposely interferes with or obstructs an animal owned by or used by a law enforcement agency or a search and rescue dog used by a law enforcement officer in the discharge or attempted discharge of his or her duties upon conviction is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (c) As used in this section, \"search and rescue dog\" means a dog: (1) In training for or trained for the purpose of search and rescue; (2) Owned by an independent handler or member of a search and rescue team; (3) Used in conjunction with a local law enforcement organization or an emergency services organization for the purpose of locating a missing person or evidence of arson; (4) Trained for the purpose of locating controlled substances; or (5) Trained to assist in the apprehension of persons alleged to have violated any law. (d) A person guilty of violating this section is also required to make restitution to the law enforcement agency or owner of the animal that suffered a loss due to the violation, including without limitation reimbursement for veterinary bills, and the replacement cost of the animal if the animal is permanently disabled or killed as a result of the violation. Acts 1985, No. 446, §§ 1, 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 41-2858, 41-2859; Acts 1987, No. 884, § 1; 1999, No. 571, § 1; 2009, No. 530, § 1.\n\n(a) Any person who: (1) Purposely kills or physically injures; (2) Purposely causes physical contact that is of a nature likely to cause physical injury to; or (3) Attempts to cause physical contact that is of a nature likely to cause physical injury to, any animal owned by or used by a law enforcement agency or any search and rescue dog upon conviction is guilty of a Class D felony.\n\n(1) Purposely kills or physically injures;\n\n(2) Purposely causes physical contact that is of a nature likely to cause physical injury to; or\n\n(3) Attempts to cause physical contact that is of a nature likely to cause physical injury to, any animal owned by or used by a law enforcement agency or any search and rescue dog upon conviction is guilty of a Class D felony.\n\n(b) A person who purposely interferes with or obstructs an animal owned by or used by a law enforcement agency or a search and rescue dog used by a law enforcement officer in the discharge or attempted discharge of his or her duties upon conviction is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.\n\n(c) As used in this section, \"search and rescue dog\" means a dog: (1) In training for or trained for the purpose of search and rescue; (2) Owned by an independent handler or member of a search and rescue team; (3) Used in conjunction with a local law enforcement organization or an emergency services organization for the purpose of locating a missing person or evidence of arson; (4) Trained for the purpose of locating controlled substances; or (5) Trained to assist in the apprehension of persons alleged to have violated any law.\n\n(1) In training for or trained for the purpose of search and rescue;\n\n(2) Owned by an independent handler or member of a search and rescue team;\n\n(3) Used in conjunction with a local law enforcement organization or an emergency services organization for the purpose of locating a missing person or evidence of arson;\n\n(4) Trained for the purpose of locating controlled substances; or\n\n(5) Trained to assist in the apprehension of persons alleged to have violated any law.\n2) Owned by an independent handler or member of a search and rescue team;\n\n(3) Used in conjunction with a local law enforcement organization or an emergency services organization for the purpose of locating a missing person or evidence of arson;\n\n(4) Trained for the purpose of locating controlled substances; or\n\n(5) Trained to assist in the apprehension of persons alleged to have violated any law.\n\n(d) A person guilty of violating this section is also required to make restitution to the law enforcement agency or owner of the animal that suffered a loss due to the violation, including without limitation reimbursement for veterinary bills, and the replacement cost of the animal if the animal is permanently disabled or killed as a result of the violation.","path":["AR Code","Title 5","Chapter 54","Subchapter 1"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"9fc6b1cdf7b971ba37ac11be40f22271faa1ed39734a76f69d8d37228d48e5b3","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-5-54-125","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-5-54-129"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}