WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American
Humane Association secured a major victory for military dogs
everywhere with the bipartisan passage of the 2016 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) by both the House of Representatives and
Senate, and its signature into law today by the President. For the
first time, language in the bill, supported by American Humane
Association, mandates that our heroic military working dogs will be
returned to U.S. soil upon retirement, and that their human
handlers and their families – to whom these dogs mean more than
anyone else –will be given first right of adoption. It is estimated
that each military dog saves the lives of between 150-200
servicemen and women by detecting IEDs and hidden weapons caches.
The language was introduced in the House and the Senate by
Congressman Frank LoBiondo and
Senator Claire McCaskill.
Prior to the passage of this groundbreaking act, military
working dogs were not guaranteed retirement on the home front, and
some were retired overseas, making them civilians and rendering
them ineligible for transportation home on military aircraft. Over
the past year, American Humane Association has privately funded the
transportation home of 21 military working dogs and contract
working dogs and helped reunite them with their former human
handlers. In July of 2014, American Humane Association held a
congressional briefing on Capitol Hill to shed light on the need to
bring home all our veterans and press for long-overdue changes to
the NDAA.
"This is a momentous day for all veterans," said Dr.
Robin Ganzert, American Humane
Association president and CEO. "We applaud Congress and the
President for passing and signing the bill with the language we
provided and stepping up for our brave K-9 Battle Buddy teams who
have benefited and will continue to benefit from their service
together."
"The NDAA and its passage 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," said Lance Corporal Jeff DeYoung, USMC (Ret.) who was reunited with
his Military War Dog Cena with the help of American Humane
Association. "The language in the NDAA is about healing, healing
veterans and their families. These dogs have so much love to
give…it's time we show some in return."
Lifesaving Work Continues at Home
For some of our brave servicemen and women, the return home from
war is not the end of the battle. Every year thousands of our
nation's veterans are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, and
easing back into society is difficult or even terrifying.
Reuniting handlers and war dogs (who themselves can suffer
from PTS) helps both heal. In this way the bond between veterans
that saved lives on the battlefield now saves lives at home.
A happy – and healthy – retirement for America's military
hero dogs
The passage of the 2016 NDAA is the second major victory for
military dogs accomplished with the help of American Humane
Association. In its July 2014
briefing, the organization called on the private sector to provide
veterinary care for all retired military dogs. On Veterans Day 2014, American Humane Association
announced an arrangement with New
Jersey's Red Bank Veterinary Hospital to provide free
specialized veterinary care to all retired canine veterans.
"These heroes have served their country with valor, and saved
the lives of our servicemen and women while risking their own,"
said John Payne, chairman of the
board for American Humane Association. "It is essential that we
step up and care for these warriors who did – and continue to do –
so much for us and all those who served alongside them. We owe them
a debt of gratitude."
With their repatriation, handler adoption and specialized health
care now assured, Dr. Ganzert declared, "This is a great day for
military heroes on both ends of the leash. We believe ALL our
veterans – two-footed and four-footed -- should come back to a
hero's welcome, a loving, forever home, and the happy, healthy, and
dignified retirement they so deserve after a lifetime of service to
their country."
To learn more about American Humane Association please visit
www.AmericanHumane.org.
About American Humane Association
American Humane
Association is the country's first national humane organization and
the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals.
Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront
of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable
from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way
in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy,
medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions
of people every day through groundbreaking research, education,
training and services that span a wide network of organizations,
agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit
American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.
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SOURCE American Humane Association