Posted on Sep 19, 2014
Military dogs are termed as mere “equipment” in laws and policies
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Not only do men and women go through great lengths to serve and protect our country, but dogs do too. However, military dogs are termed as mere “equipment” in laws and policies. Military dogs must be treated as soldiers, especially since their lives are put on the line to save others.
Military Working Dogs (MWD) are specifically trained to sniff bombs, protect their own bases and identify the locations of the enemy. This kind of work is dangerous and traumatic for a living, breathing being. During active service, a dog’s rank is considered higher than its handler’s. However, all of this is put aside once the dog becomes too old or irrelevant. The same dog is then declared unnecessary equipment, which can be left behind--often at foreign bases.
This is wrong. The bond between a dog and its handler is very strong. They are practically comrades. The dog protects its handler and other soldiers during crossfire. You can leave behind equipment, but you can never leave behind a comrade! Military dogs should be reclassified as manpower or K-9 service members. That way, they will return their country with the armed forces. In the Vietnam War, the U.S. military included 4900 dogs, and only 1600 made it back after the war ended.
Military dogs are not left behind in war zones anymore. Bill Clinton passed a law in 2000 that allows civilians, former handlers and law enforcement agencies to adopt retired MWDs. However, this bill didn’t reclassify war dogs. Representative Walter Jones (R-NC) submitted a bill back in 2012 that would reclassify MWDs as K-9 members of the military, called Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act. Unfortunately, in the process of incorporating the bill in the larger National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, a key part of reclassifying military dogs was left out.
The armed forces do respect all MWDs. Service members who are handlers cannot imagine their dogs as equipment and would never intentionally leave them behind. But the moment an MWD retires, it is considered equipment and is not transported back to headquarters. The dogs left behind at a foreign base can be adopted by a U.S. civilian, but the civilian would then have to pay for the monumental shipping costs. This discourages people from adopting war dogs.
The Air Force is making a policy change that would no longer classify MWDs as gear, but changes still need to be made across the services. We are making progress, but it's taking quite some time. MWDs do nothing less than serve our nation and military. They have every right to be reclassified as service members. If the military can transport MWDs overseas, then MWDs should be brought back as well.
What is your experience with dogs in the military? How should they be reflected in laws and military policies?
Military Working Dogs (MWD) are specifically trained to sniff bombs, protect their own bases and identify the locations of the enemy. This kind of work is dangerous and traumatic for a living, breathing being. During active service, a dog’s rank is considered higher than its handler’s. However, all of this is put aside once the dog becomes too old or irrelevant. The same dog is then declared unnecessary equipment, which can be left behind--often at foreign bases.
This is wrong. The bond between a dog and its handler is very strong. They are practically comrades. The dog protects its handler and other soldiers during crossfire. You can leave behind equipment, but you can never leave behind a comrade! Military dogs should be reclassified as manpower or K-9 service members. That way, they will return their country with the armed forces. In the Vietnam War, the U.S. military included 4900 dogs, and only 1600 made it back after the war ended.
Military dogs are not left behind in war zones anymore. Bill Clinton passed a law in 2000 that allows civilians, former handlers and law enforcement agencies to adopt retired MWDs. However, this bill didn’t reclassify war dogs. Representative Walter Jones (R-NC) submitted a bill back in 2012 that would reclassify MWDs as K-9 members of the military, called Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act. Unfortunately, in the process of incorporating the bill in the larger National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, a key part of reclassifying military dogs was left out.
The armed forces do respect all MWDs. Service members who are handlers cannot imagine their dogs as equipment and would never intentionally leave them behind. But the moment an MWD retires, it is considered equipment and is not transported back to headquarters. The dogs left behind at a foreign base can be adopted by a U.S. civilian, but the civilian would then have to pay for the monumental shipping costs. This discourages people from adopting war dogs.
The Air Force is making a policy change that would no longer classify MWDs as gear, but changes still need to be made across the services. We are making progress, but it's taking quite some time. MWDs do nothing less than serve our nation and military. They have every right to be reclassified as service members. If the military can transport MWDs overseas, then MWDs should be brought back as well.
What is your experience with dogs in the military? How should they be reflected in laws and military policies?
MWD: Military Working Dog
Dogs
Command Post
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 63
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I think that it is a huge disrespect to MWD's that are deployed to hostile environments to protect our troops and their handlers and not consider them as retirees or veterans when the animal is no longer able to fulfill their original job. At that point the last handler should have the option to adopt their dog and if that is not possible; see if the MWD could become a service animal for our disabled retiree and veteran community! This is my opinion and I'm sure it's the same for all current and former handlers. At least the ones I know.
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For those interested....here is a link to adopt MWD....
http://www.uswardogs.org/mwd-adoptions/
http://www.uswardogs.org/mwd-adoptions/
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MSgt Kurt Woodward
Thank you for providing this link. I have a German Sheppard right now that is my protector since I'm a disabled retiree and I know he would do anything to keep me safe; just like a MWD does it's handler!
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In truth, this not a whole lot worse than the military treats their human veterans? The only difference is that the human make a little more noise.
I would have to disagree about WMDs havibg 'rights' but do not want to take this down a rabbit hole...of course any dog would love a rabbit hole?
Roy Riggleman, we are talking about a different kind of dog...the four legged type, so relax.
I would have to disagree about WMDs havibg 'rights' but do not want to take this down a rabbit hole...of course any dog would love a rabbit hole?
Roy Riggleman, we are talking about a different kind of dog...the four legged type, so relax.
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MSG John Wirts
I seem to remember stories that Army Mules and Horses,were given ranks(no pay) and retired and supported after their service. This changed in the 1930's as the Army went mechanized and the horses and mules were "put down" to dismay of the local residents.
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MSG Brad Sand
MSG John Wirts
I remember a story about cavalrymen...horse not tankers...trying to sneak their horses to Canada...I it was supposed to be based on a real life, but who knows?
I remember talking with veteran of the 56th CAV BDE (Texas NG) and while they had mules instead of horses, they were the last mounted unit in the US Army. He talked about how sad he was when he had to put his mule down...the mules carried in the food and then became food...but decades later he still had fond memories of his mule.
I remember a story about cavalrymen...horse not tankers...trying to sneak their horses to Canada...I it was supposed to be based on a real life, but who knows?
I remember talking with veteran of the 56th CAV BDE (Texas NG) and while they had mules instead of horses, they were the last mounted unit in the US Army. He talked about how sad he was when he had to put his mule down...the mules carried in the food and then became food...but decades later he still had fond memories of his mule.
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MSG John Wirts
I remember while I was on active duty, the Army went to computerized supply ordering. All outstanding orders were ordered to be filled or killed. If an order you needed was killed you had to reorder it. If it was in stock it was filled and shipped! I was stationed in Kleber Kasern, Kaiserlautern Germany, in the $40 Signal Bn. The unit next to us was The third Armored Div " Brave Rifles". Late one afternoon a "cattle car" pulled up to the armor and started unloading. The troops came out and opened the boxes to find McClellan saddles, bridles, horse blankets, everything to reequip a unit wiped out in the indian wars, except horses!
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Retired K-9's should be entitled to paid Vet care for life. Not only do they save lives, boost morale and minimize risk to SM's, they also rip shitheads faces off. #LoveDemDogs
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CW4 John Karl T.
They should get vet care for life, just not by the VA. But, would they have a field day with shitheads in D.C.
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My question is, aren't they given a rank above their handler? If they are not Soldiers, but "equipment", how is this possible?
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SSG Paul Lanciault
I have heard the stories about the rank, never saw the paperwork. I do know it was often warmer at the kennel than in my barracks room.
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I love dogs, and I have my trusted German Shepherd Dog sitting next to me as I type this response. My dog protects my kids and wife while I'm often away. She patrols my yard and refuses to let anyone enter without permission (the Fed Ex guy and the prison detail that pick up trash in Columbus, GA know not to enter my yard).
All that being said, we don't need to detract from the real needs of Veterans who come home broken and in need of care. We should respect MWD's, care for them, and send them to caring "retirement" families when they've finished their duty. At the end of the day, though, they are dogs. We wouldn't afford the same care to the pigs and cows that feed our Soldiers, or the lab animals that suffer the test of the many vaccines that we're given.
We are in a time of limited resources, and we need to focus what we have on who needs it most.
All that being said, we don't need to detract from the real needs of Veterans who come home broken and in need of care. We should respect MWD's, care for them, and send them to caring "retirement" families when they've finished their duty. At the end of the day, though, they are dogs. We wouldn't afford the same care to the pigs and cows that feed our Soldiers, or the lab animals that suffer the test of the many vaccines that we're given.
We are in a time of limited resources, and we need to focus what we have on who needs it most.
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Absolutely! Every deployment I've been on involved MWDs in some way shape or form. My own dog keeps me from killing idiots on a daily basis! I know plenty of people wearing a uniform we can leave behind so we can bring back our K-9s!
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The problem is that under the law any dog is just property, not just military working dogs. Should this be changed? I certainly believe so, but chances slim of that happening.
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MSgt Kurt Woodward
I completely agree with the above statement. Those K-9's that make it to Retirement, should be classified as Veterans and get the same Honor's when they pass away.
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