I'm so happy about this! This year's Defense Dept Appropriation bill, HR 4310, signed by President Obama, includes provisions for "Retirement, adoption, care, and recognition of military working dogs"! Sec. 361 spells it out, starting with reclassification: "The Secretary of Defense shall classify military working dogs as canine members of the armed forces. Such dogs shall not be classified as equipment."I wrote a post about this on May 24, 2011. At that time, Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, who oversaw the adoption program begun in 2000, was advocating for reclassification. She received mixed reviews in her next assignment heading up the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, but she certainly made a positive change for the dogs and their handlers.
These dogs will finally get the respect and care they deserve. Instead of being left behind or killed in foreign countries when military units leave, the dogs will be transferred at the defense department's expense to either an adoption center or the 341st Training Squadron. They are also entitled to veterinary care for life. Hoo-ah!
