The Senate version of AB 522/ SB 325 is now LAW! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who responded to our call for action on this bill!

    2017 WISCONSIN ACT 166    

    AB 522 Full Bill Text       SB 435 Full Bill Text   

    AB 522 Bill History      SB 435 Bill History      Talking Points   

     AB 522, "Relating to: the rendering of first aid to animals by emergency medical technicians or first responders," was introduced into the WI State Assembly on September 29th, 2017. It was immediately referred to the Assembly Committee on Health.

     Its Senate counterpart, SB 435, was introduced on October 9, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. The Committee held a well-attended public hearing, then unanimously voted the bill on to the full Senate. Senate Substitute Amendment 1 was added (to incorporate a terminology change as enacted in 2017 Wisconsin Act 12) and the bill was passed by the Senate on 1/23/18.

     AB 522 went back to the Assembly floor, and Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 was added to correspond with the bill as passed by the Senate. The bill did not come up for a vote, but the Senate version was sent to the Govenor for his signature and was enacted on March 28, 2018, as 2017 WISCONSIN ACT 166!

    2017 WISCONSIN ACT 166    

    Senate Substitute Amendment 1   

    Assembly Substitute Amendment 1   

     Essentially, AB 522/ SB 435 "allows an emergency medical technician or a first responder to render first aid services to a sick or injured domestic animal that the emergency medical technician or first responder encounters in the course of responding to a call for services before the domestic animal is transferred to a veterinarian for further treatment. ... The service provided to the domestic animal must be in the scope of practice of the emergency medical technician or first responder when applied to human beings."

     The bill has bipartisan support in both houses, with 26 Representatives and 9 Senators currently signed on as authors or sponsors. It is also supported by the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association, the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Association, and the Humane Society of the United States, as well as many WI rescue organizations and veterinarians.

Bill Summary:

     "This bill allows an emergency medical technician or a first responder to render first aid services to a sick or injured domestic animal that the emergency medical technician or first responder encounters in the course of responding to a call for services before the domestic animal is transferred to a veterinarian for further treatment. Under the bill, a domestic animal is a dog, cat, or other house pet. The service provided to the domestic animal must be in the scope of practice of the emergency medical technician or first responder when applied to human beings.

     "The bill provides civil and criminal immunity for ambulance service providers, emergency medical technicians, or first responders for any outcomes resulting from the rendering of first aid to the domestic animal. The bill also provides civil and criminal immunity for those persons for declining to render first aid to a domestic animal."

    Full Text of AB 522   

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

      Please call or email your WISCONSIN state representatives (see link below to find your WI representatives ). Try to keep your message brief, and be sure to give your name, address, and phone number. Let your representative know that you are a constituent. Please, ALWAYS be polite and respectful. Name-calling, and rude or abusive letters or emails will hurt, rather than help, our cause.

• If they are listed among the Authors and Cosponsors below, THANK them for introducing this bill and let them know that you support it.

• If your representatives are not listed, please ask them to SUPPORT AB 522/ SB435, which would allow first responders to give first aid to injured pets in the course of responding to a call for help for humans.

• If you phone, that is all you need to do.

• If you want to give reasons for your position, please see our Talking Points and links for further information below!

     Also, please post your support on your Representative's and Senator's Facebook pages!

    Find your WI State Representatives   

    What To Expect At A Public Hearing   

Talking Points:

• When responding to an emergency call where both humans and animals may be injured, EMS personnel who arrive on the scene are currently legally unable to provide basic care to any animals that may also be injured.

• AB 522/SB 435 would allow emergency medical technicians and first responders to provide certain medical services (such as bandaging, immobilizing a fracture, and administering oxygen) to an injured dog, cat, or other household pet at the scene of an emergency prior to transferring the animal to a veterinary care facility.

• The bill will protect canine units and service animals which may be injured at the scene of an emergency as well as dogs and cats rescued from house fires, car accidents or other crisis situations.

• This bill would not require that ambulance service providers and their employees provide first aid services to animals. It would merely give them the ability to do so should they feel comfortable.

• The bill would provide clarity to first responders who might otherwise be unsure as to whether they may legally administer first aid to injured animals.

• The bill would provide immunity for ambulance service providers, EMT’s, or first responders for any outcomes resulting from the rendering of first aid to an animal in good faith. It would also protect them should they opt NOT to treat animals at the scene of an emergency.

• The bill will help veterinarians because the animals will be in better condition when brought to them for treatment.

• The bill has bipartisan support in both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature, with 26 Representatives and 9 Senators currently signed on as authors or sponsors.

• It is also supported by the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association, the Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Association, and the Humane Society of the United States, as well as many WI rescue organizations and veterinarians.

    AB 522 Full Bill Text       SB 435 Full Bill Text   

    AB 522 Bill History      SB 435 Bill History      Talking Points   

    Find your WI State Representatives