New Law Ensures No Military Working Dog Will Be Left Behind

Last month Congress drafted new legislation mandating military dogs to be returned to U.S. soil upon retirement.

Police Dog

Prior to this legislation, military working dogs were left on foreign soil.  If dogs were retired overseas, they became civilians and no longer qualified to travel home on military vehicles. To prevent such unreformed policy from ever presenting such problems to military pups, Congress drafted some new legislation. In October, the National Defense Authorization Act passed the House and Senate. This bill includes support by the American Humane Association mandating military working dogs be returned to U.S. soil upon retirement. Dogs’ handlers and families will have the first right of adoption once they are back in the U.S.