California Criminalizes Hurting Volunteer Police Animals

California laws that punish people who injure police horses and dogs in the line of duty now extend to volunteer law enforcement animals, reports the Associated Press .

Gov. Jerry Brown's office announced Thursday he signed a bill authorizing up to a year in jail and fines for hurting and harassing animals that are helping law enforcement.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department and Pasadena Police Department are among the California agencies with mounted volunteers patrolling for crime.