Saturday, September 6, 2014

Appropriate Housing For Military Dogs In South California

By Kerri Stout


Canine involvement with people in America is a national pass time. Nearly every family has at one time or another possessed a dog. Our troops are no exception to this rule and many have access to them on at least two levels. They often need to find someone to care for their pets while they are on deployment and many in combat zones are partnered with a working dog for protection. It is no surprise that there is a need for appropriate housing for military dogs in South California.

When there are no family or friends that are able to take in your dog while you are gone options become scarce for most. For a long time the only options were to give the dog away or surrender it to a shelter and hope that it is placed rather than euthanized. Considering long term boarding is both too expensive and difficult to plan for because you do not know how long you will be out of the country.

Because this is such a common problem for military personnel agencies have been organized to assist with the problem. Their goal is to find people who are willing to foster the pets of soldiers while they are on active duty and they do this by posting the names and locations on internet bulletin boards that can be accessed by those in need. The fostering family is aware that they may have the dog for a very long time and many times will communicate with the soldier giving him or her updates on the dog and sharing pictures online of the dog.

Many of these agencies are local while others operate on a nationwide basis. Access to them allows the owner who is being deployed to feel secure in the care of their pet and focus on the duties they are given in service to their country. The canine companions they have in combat zones are in need of another type of caring home.

Canines have been trained for use in combat zones officially since the second World War and typically when their usefulness ended they were abandoned in whatever country they were in or euthanized. Their duties included searching for explosives hidden in the ground, finding weapons caches and protecting their handlers from attack.

American people have petitioned to have these animals returned to America when their tour is complete. They have served the country well and saved thousands of lives in the process. Many soldiers wanted to adopt their dog when they returned home but the cost was prohibitive. In 2000 President Clinton enacted legislation that brings them home at government expense.

Today adoptions of these animals by families wanting to provide a good home and peaceful retirement atmosphere are high. There is currently a six month waiting list for those wanting to adopt. The new owners are not advised of the type of service they performed while working with the soldiers.

With people becoming aware of the issues surrounding soldiers and their canines the agencies that help them may become more abundant especially near armed forces bases.




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