A familiar theme across Tennessee public entities these days is our shared love for our four-legged teammates who make our communities better. From school hallways to police cruisers to administrative offices, K-9s are being used in more ways than ever to support students, law enforcement, and staff. They bring comfort, improve safety, and often sense things long before we ever could, providing a truly priceless service to our members.
But with all the good they bring, these hard-working animals also introduce a type of liability that isn’t always obvious at first glance. It’s important for our members to understand where these exposures come from and how to stay protected.
TNRMT provides coverage for canines that perish in the line of duty, insured to a stated value. This coverage is available to all our members.
The critical legal and HR consideration when adding a canine to your operations is compensating the handler/ caretaker. Courts have consistently ruled in favor of handlers or caretakers seeking back wages when compensation was not provided. To avoid this liability, it’s essential that the handler(s) or caretaker(s) receive payment for their time and care. This can be accomplished through a stipend, a per diem, or as part of their regular salary.
Before placing the canine into service:
- Confirm a payment arrangement is documented and in place for the handler.
- Coordinate with your finance or HR department to ensure compliance.
- Notify us so we can include the canine under your coverage at the appropriate stated value.
These simple steps can ensure legal compliance.
Jason Baggett
TNRMT
865-228-8835
jbagget@tnrmt.com
Chris Stites
SEC
615-826-4274
cstites@sectn.com
Mark Bilyeu
SEC
615-210-7827
mbilyeu@sectn.com