(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1) Willfully and maliciously assault, beat, harass, injure, or attempt to assault, beat, harass, or injure a dog that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a guide or leader dog for a blind individual, a hearing dog for a deaf or audibly impaired individual, or a service dog for a physically limited individual; and

(2) Willfully and maliciously impede or interfere with, or attempt to impede or interfere with, duties performed by a dog that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a guide or leader dog for a blind individual, a hearing dog for a deaf or audibly impaired individual, or a service dog for a physically limited individual.

(b) As used in subsection (a) of this Code section, the term "harass" means to engage in any conduct directed toward a guide, leader, hearing, or service dog that is likely to impede or interfere with the dog's performance of its duties or that places the blind, deaf, or physically limited person being served or assisted by the dog in danger of injury.

(c) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

(d) In a prosecution for a violation of subsection (a) of this Code section, evidence that the defendant initiated or continued conduct directed toward a dog described in subsection (a) of this Code section after being requested to avoid or discontinue that conduct or similar conduct by a blind, deaf, audibly impaired, or physically limited individual being served or assisted by the dog shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption that the conduct was initiated or continued maliciously.

(e) A conviction and imposition of a sentence under this Code section shall not prevent a conviction and imposition of a sentence under any other applicable provision of law.