Thanks To New Law: Every U.S. Military Dog Will Be Brought Home

The heroic pups who courageously serve and paw-tect our country are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

President Barack Obama signed a bill into law last month that guarantees the safe return of all retired military dogs to the United States after serving abroad. In the past, some of these animals were left to retire overseas because they were no longer considered service dogs, and were therefore ineligible for military-funded transportation home, The Washington Times reported.

The American Humane Association estimates that a military dog saves between 150 to 200 service members during his tenure by detecting improvised explosive devices and hidden weapons caches. Upon return from combat, these animals, if given the chance, often continue to protect their humans and help them transition back into society.

“[The bill] will ensure that our four-legged veterans will finally have their chance to come home and live a comfortable, quiet life, hopefully with a handler they deployed with or a fellow veteran,” retired Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung, who was reunited with his war dog, Cena, said in a press release. “These dogs have so much love to give…it’s time we show some in return.”

This pooch-protecting measure was part of the $607 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by the Senate on Nov. 10.

There are an estimated 2,500 dogs currently serving overseas, according to the American Humane Association. To get retired dogs home in the past, humanitarian organizations, like the American Humane Association, or the handlers themselves, would front the transportation costs involved, according to The Times.

And the canines who were left behind faced uncertain futures.

“In some cases they’ve been kept in kennels for indeterminate lengths of time until someone wanted them,” Mark Stubis, spokesman for the American Humane Association, told The Washington Times. “In the best cases, some have been adopted by U.S. military personnel living abroad. In others, they were adopted by local people and, we have heard, in some cases, abused.”

Experts say that even after retirement, these dogs actually still have a lot to give, especially to veterans living with post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental health issues.

“When they come back suffering from those invisible wounds of war, we’re hoping that their four legged battle buddy will help them heal from PTS,” Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Association, told The Washington Free Beacon. “We know it works. We’ve seen it work.”

FOLLOW US!

The Lie at the Heart of the Killing - The Myth Pet Overpopulation

Today, an animal entering an average American animal shelter has a 50 percent chance of being killed, and in some communities it is as high as 99 percent, with shelters blaming a lack of available homes as the cause of death.

But is pet overpopulation real? And are shelters doing all they can to save lives? If you believe the Humane Society of the United States, the American Humane Association, the ASPCA and PETA the answer to both those questions is “yes,” even though that answer flies in the face of the data and experience. It is simply “received” rather than substantiated wisdom. To adherents of the “we have no choice but to kill because of pet overpopulation” school, pet overpopulation is real because animals are being killed, a logical fallacy based on backwards reasoning and circular illogic. In other words, data, analysis and experience—in short, evidence—have no place. Neither do ethics.

To read more on this story, click here: The Lie at the Heart of the Killing - The Myth Pet Overpopulation

Who is Nathan Winograd? FOLLOW US!

Washington, DC - National Fire Dog Monument Installation in Chinatown (500 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001) – Today, October 23 - Open to the Public

American Humane Association invites you to join us for the final installation of The National Fire Dog Monument, created to recognize the incredible contributions that accelerant detection canines (arson dogs) make in keeping communities safe. The monument traveled from Denver, CO to Washington, DC last summer for temporary placement at D.C. Fire Station #3 where the general public was able to view it inside of the station’s museum. The monument will be permanently installed on the sidewalk in front of Fire Station #2 in the Chinatown section of Washington, DC on October 23rd.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013
12:00 – 2:30 PM: NFDM Dedication Ceremony at D.C. Fire & EMS Station #2 in Chinatown (500 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001) – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

American Humane Association and State Farm were instrumental in providing funding to The National Fire Dog Monument (NFDM), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to build a bronze monument dedicated to all Certified Accelerant Detection K-9’s (arson dogs) as a way to acknowledge their service to the communities where they serve.

These dogs do not ask for anything in return after risking their lives to reduce the negative impact of arson in their communities. The monument design is a standing fire fighter looking down on his Labrador Retriever (2011 Hero Dog Award winner Sadie served as model!), who is looking back up at his handler ready to work.  The monument is titled “From Ashes to Answers.”

I hope you will join us here in Washington, DC on October 23rd, to help call attention to the nation's arson dogs and thank the men and women who train and care for these four-legged heroes who do so much to protect families and communities across America!

With best wishes,

Dr. Robin Ganzert
President and CEO

Please Share!

FOLLOW US!