Posted on 06/30/2012 2:23:02 AM PDT by shibumi
If roadside bombs and other hazards of war don't kill military dogs, senseless government regulations and red tape might. The United States is breeding 100 puppies a year to train for bomb sniffing and other soldierly duties, but many aren't making it back to happy homes because an obscure federal law classifies them as "equipment" rather than personnel -- and makes adopting them a financial and bureaucratic nightmare. A bill to require that the military ship the heroic dogs home and ease potential veterinarian costs for adopting families is currently bogged down in Congress, as dogs continue to be euthanized. In the meantime, at least there is an occasional happy ending.
(Excerpt) Read more at now.msn.com ...
bttt
Doggie Ping
Euthanize bureaucrats instead!
I found the congressional bill.
It’s S. 2134: Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act, sponsored by Sen Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Link to the bill is here -
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s2134
Disclaimer! I have not read the bill. I do not know why it has not yet been passed. It would seem to me that this should be a completely non-partisan issue, but I suppose if there’s a chance to politicize it, somebody will try.
Hear! Hear!
It’s interesting that in Law Enforcement Dogs are considered an officer and if you harmed one you are so charged.
But in the military dogs are equipment? I guess “all animals are equal” does not apply to working dogs.
"Stubby" held the rank of Sergeant and had his three Buck Sergeant Stripes on his vest along with his medals.
Euthanize bureaucrats instead!I don't know about euthanize... that sounds too painless.
How about hang them by the neck until dead?
Thanks! This needs to be stopped!
This murder of military dogs by the Federal Government needs to be stopped.
It is reminiscent of McArthur’s machine-gunning cavalry mounts in the early 20th century. It is also reminiscent of the way war dogs in Viet Nam were treated when Nixon pulled us out of there.
According to this Wiki article -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs_in_warfare
Clinton signed an adoption law for these dogs. What the particulars are, or why it’s not being followed, I cannot say.
Posting this thread is giving me a lot of research to do!
Even a broken clock.........
Of course the CURRENT occupant of the Oval Office, as a Muslim, thinks dogs are ritually unclean and as such only serve a useful purpose when employed as tools. Beyond that, they are expendable.
They did this in Vietnam. A friend of mine was a member of the USAF “K-9” security corps and was assigned to a big beautiful German Shepherd for his four year enlistment. When his time was up and he mustered out, they wouldn’t let him adopt his dog, but instead “euthanized” it. He’s still mad about it after 40+ years.
In World War I, all the horses that survived the combat were sold off as meat. Of course, the French were starving and they needed the food. Still, if you see the play “War Horse” it will break your heart knowing what these beasts went through...
The treatment of VietNam ear dogs is especially shameful in light of the fact that *NOT ONE* VC sapper team ever penetrated a perimeter secured by a sentry dog during that war.
That’s a record that will never be matched by human sentries.
Yeah. We can thank that phoney Proto-RINO Nixon for that.
Their classification as equipment vice personnel probably has more to do with appropriations and consistency with parallel Congressional and military budgeting processes.
Congress votes on the explicit numbers of personnel and equipment shown in respective tables of organization and tables of equipment.
It is much easier to budget for supporting requirements of equipment than personnel. The remaining issues regarding the treatment of the animals can be handled by agency orders.
At present we spend at least about $85k per military working dog kennel space in new construction. If classified as personnel, numerous other facilities could be justified for the animals while likely reducing the total number of humans in the armed forces.
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