By Police1 Staff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Killing or seriously wounding a K-9 in Florida will now result in a higher penalty.
According to local news station WTSP, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Friday that makes the crime a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The crime was previously a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The bill was inspired by the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old K-9 named Fang last year.
The penalties would also apply to those who seriously injure or kill a police horse or K-9s used by fire departments and search and rescue teams.