Health and Safety Code section 1797.10
(a)
For the purposes of this section, “police canine” means a canine that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a state or local law enforcement agency, a correctional agency, a fire department, a special fire district, or the State Fire Marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, flammable materials, or missing persons, the enforcement of laws, the investigation of fires, or the apprehension of offenders.(b)
For the purposes of this section, “search and rescue dog” has the same meaning as in Section 54.25 of the Civil Code.(c)
A person licensed to operate an ambulance pursuant to Section 2510 of the Vehicle Code or a person who operates ambulances owned or operated by a fire department of a federally recognized Indian tribe may transport a police canine or a search and rescue dog that is injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic or similar facility if there is no other person requiring medical attention or transport at that time. To the extent feasible, the handler of the police canine or search and rescue dog shall accompany the animal during transport to maintain control of the animal during transport.(d)
(1)Notwithstanding Section 4825 of the Business and Professions Code, an emergency responder may provide basic first aid to a police canine or search and rescue dog that is injured in the line of duty while the police canine or search and rescue dog is being transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility.(2)
An emergency responder who acts in good faith and not for compensation to provide basic first aid to an injured police canine or search and rescue dog while the police canine or search and rescue dog is being transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility is not subject to criminal or civil liability for any injury to the canine that occurs during the emergency transportation or administration of medical care described in this section, subject to the limitation described in paragraph (3).(3)
This subdivision does not apply to an act or omission by an emergency responder that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.(4)
An emergency responder who provides basic first aid to an injured police canine or search and rescue dog while the police canine or search and rescue dog is being transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility does not render the transportation or care “for compensation” for the purpose of this section, notwithstanding their receipt of compensation for other services as a result of their employment.(e)
This section does not require an ambulance to transport, or an emergency responder to provide first aid to, a police canine or search and rescue dog. A contract for the provision of emergency medical response or transport shall not contain, as a condition of award, a requirement to provide care or transport to police canines or search and rescue dogs.(f)
(1)An ambulance operator that elects to provide transport to police canines or search and rescue dogs pursuant to this section shall develop policies regarding the transport of canines, including, but not limited to, what additional equipment should be carried by the ambulance and any necessary decontamination procedures following the transport of the animal before returning the ambulance to human patient use. The policies shall be submitted to, and approved by, the local emergency medical services agency.(2)
This subdivision does not apply to ambulances owned or operated by a fire department of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
Source:
Section 1797.10, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1797.10. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
