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New Law Ensures No Military Working Dog Will Be Left Behind. Ever.

Written by: Stephanie Figy

October 28, 2015

Get an extra month of BarkBox with any new plan by donating just $1 to help K9s For Warriors give a new leash on life to rescue dogs and military heroes. Go to ruv.me/adollaradog to lend a paw today!

More than 2,000 dogs currently serve in the U.S. Military. Each military dog saves the lives of 150 to 200 servicemen and women. We aren’t doing enough for our four-legged heroes.

marines-with-dogs

In the not too distant past, military working dogs were left on foreign soil, never to be reunited with their human partners. As a result, many still believe that such practices are common, though that’s not the case.

war-dog

Unfortunately, policy doesn’t always progress with the times and the old rules still allow for situations that reflect old school attitudes towards military working dogs. Technically speaking, if dogs are retired overseas, they become civilians and are no longer qualified to travel home on military vehicles. Fortunately, it’s not common practice to retire dogs overseas.

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To prevent such unreformed policy from ever presenting such problems to military pups, Congress drafted some new legislation. On Oct. 7, the National Defense Authorization Act passed the House and Senate. This bill includes language supported by the American Humane Association mandating military working dogs be returned to U.S. soil upon retirement. Even further, the dogs’ handlers and families will have the first right of adoption.

patrol-dogs

The language, introduced in the House by Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and the Senate by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is a huge furry step forward for military working dogs and their best friends.

doc-with-dog

Thousands of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress when coming home from war, and the dogs aren’t excluded from this. Keeping military dogs with their handlers allows them to help each other heal.

soldier-and-dog

Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association president and CEO says:

“This is a great day for military heroes on both ends of the leash. We believe ALL our veterans — two-footed and four-footed — should come back to a hero’s welcome, a loving, forever home and the happy, healthy and dignified retirement they so deserve after a lifetime of service to their country.”

hero-pup

The bill now awaits the president’s signature and we are certain this bill will become law, because we all want every single one of our veterans, including the furry kind, to be brought home to love, respect and admiration.

Get an extra month of BarkBox with any new plan by donating just $1 to help K9s For Warriors give a new leash on life to rescue dogs and military heroes. Go to ruv.me/adollaradog to lend a paw today!

Featured image via United States War Dogs Association

H/t Free Patriot Post

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Written by: Stephanie Figy

October 28, 2015

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A themed collection of BARK-designed toys, treats, and chews.