In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Emergency response animal” means: a dog used by a law enforcement unit in the State that is trained for law enforcement work and is subject to the control of a law enforcement officer who has completed handler training in accordance with the policies of the law enforcement unit that employs the officer; a horse used by a law enforcement unit in the State for law enforcement work; a search and rescue dog trained for or engaged in an effort directed by a State agency or a political subdivision of the State to locate or rescue a lost, injured, or deceased individual; or a horse used in a search and rescue effort directed by a State agency or a political subdivision of the State to locate or rescue a lost, injured, or deceased individual. “Law enforcement unit” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of the Criminal Procedure Article. “Serious physical injury” means physical injury that causes permanent or protracted: disfigurement; loss of the function of any bodily member or organ; or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. A person may not intentionally harass or interfere with an emergency response animal during the lawful performance of the emergency response animal’s duties. A person may not intentionally injure an emergency response animal. A person may not violate paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection during the commission of a crime. A person may not intentionally kill or cause serious physical injury to an emergency response animal. A person who violates subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both. A person who violates subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both. Nothing in this section prohibits a defendant from asserting the defense of necessity or self–defense to a charge of violating this section. It is an affirmative defense to a charge of violating this section that the defendant acted reasonably to prevent physical harm resulting from a violation of the Maryland Use of Force Statute under § 3–524 of the Public Safety Article.