U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (l.) with USMC Capt. Jason Haag and his military dog, Axel. Photo Courtesy of Sen. Schumer’s Office.
Upon retirement, military dogs should be made available to be easily adopted by their service handlers, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said this week as he pushed for a provision that’s currently part of the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act.
The provision allows the secretary of the military department to make a military animal available for adoption after retirement. It would allow non-combat military dogs to be easily adopted by their handler. The only exception to this rule is if the secretary determines that adoption of the dog by the former handler would not be in the best interest of the dog. With more than one former handler seeking adoption of the dog, the secretary would provide for the adoption of the dog by the former handler whose adoption would best serve the interests of the animal.
Schumer noted that the NDAA provision will help former military handlers more easily adopt their military working dogs. He later explained on Monday that service dogs and their handlers share special bonds, and often times, military handlers want to adopt their dogs after retirement. Schumer noted that this legislation would make that process possible.
“After all we know about treating debilitating post war conditions, like [post-traumatic stress disorder] and other health afflictions, it makes absolute sense to keep service members joined with their service dogs,” Schumer said. “To know that, after all these years, this unresolved issue stands in the way of our veterans and their beloved four-legged friends is unfair and misguided. The federal government has always stood strong with veterans, supporting them and giving veterans the resources to return home and lead productive lives. That’s exactly why Congress should support this cause, because our veterans say it helps; it’s good for them. Here we have a commonsense policy that is good for the animals that give it their all for America—and for the American heroes who love these dogs so dearly.”
