TCA § 4-7-116 — [Reserved.]

When a canine that was utilized in the service of the highway patrol is retired due to age, service-related injury, or any other reason, and the canine is retired to the care and custody of a highway patrol officer, whether active or retired, the department of safety, from funds budgeted to the department through the general appropriations act, shall pay, on a monthly basis, the officer caring for the retired canine the sum of eighty-five dollars ($85.00) to be used exclusively for the medical care of the retired canine. The officer with custody of the retired canine shall maintain records of all medical treatment provided to the retired canine in the officer's care and custody and, by June 1 of each year, submit a copy of these medical records to the department of safety for the fiscal year ending at the end of that month. Within thirty (30) days of the death of a retired canine in the care of a highway patrol officer, the officer shall notify the department of safety of the canine's death. Upon receiving notification pursuant to this subsection (c), the monthly medical treatment payments to the officer provided by this section shall cease. The monthly amount set out in subsection (a) shall be in addition to any amount that is otherwise due and paid to the officer by virtue of salary, retirement, disability, or other reason.