Tomorrow (March 13, 2019) is National K9 Veterans Day, a day that honors military working dogs and the countless other dogs who have served our country. The holiday also commemorates the launch of the US Army’s original War Dog program, or “K9 Corps”.
What you might not know is that military working dogs have served alongside American soldiers since the Revolutionary War. Today there are approximately 2,300 military working dogs; most serve in the United States to provide security at military bases. A few hundred more are deployed with their handlers to war zones where they serve as patrol dogs, sentries and detectors for explosives and drugs.
But what happens to these working dogs at the end of their military career?
We’ll answer that question and explain what you need to know if you’re interested in giving one of these retired military “veterans” a home.
WHEN AND WHY MILITARY WORKING DOGS STOP
Like human recruits, not all puppies originally destined for the military working dog program complete the full training to become active duty dogs. Puppies not selected for advanced training may be offered for adoption.
Also, every working dog’s career comes to an end at some point. This can be due to injuries, health issues, age, or even behavioral issues, such as loss of motivation or easy distraction. Some dogs may continue to work for another federal agency or law enforcement. But if their state of health does not allow them to continue working, the dogs are made available for adoption.
US federal law prioritizes civilian law enforcement agencies first, then former handlers, and finally the general public. But if age, physical condition, or medical issues preclude the dog from being considered for law enforcement duties, a former dog handler is most often selected. In fact, most retired military working dogs — over 90 percent — are adopted by their current or former owners.
Although different government agencies have different guidelines for adopting retired or reassigned dogs, you can expect a thorough application and interview process. These adoption programs take as much care in adopting dogs as they do in selecting, training, and placing their dogs for military service.
You can also expect a long wait to adopt a military working dog. Only a small number of dogs are available for civil adoption, and there is a long list of interested potential owners. Because of this, you could be waiting 12 to 18 months before your application to adopt a retired working dog is withdrawn.
NOT YOUR REGULAR FAMILY DOG
Before beginning the adoption process, prospective owners of military working dogs should recognize that these dogs are not like most family dogs. Whether they served on a base overseas or at an airport in the United States, military working dogs have been bred for their intelligence, drive, and focus. Structure and obedience are important for these dogs.
You might imagine a military working dog like a German Shepherd, but that’s not the only breed found in these programs. Other breeds include the Dutch Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Belgian Malinois, and German Shorthaired Pointer.
Most retired military working dogs available for adoption will be between 10 and 12 years old. If the dogs have health issues that affect their ability to serve, they may be younger. Additionally, dogs released from the TSA or Armed Forces training program are also likely to be younger, perhaps 2-4 years old.
The level of training each dog has received will also vary, particularly if the dog is removed from a program. And you can be assured that each dog will be carefully evaluated in behavioral tests before adoption. However, potential adoptive families generally cannot have children under the age of 5 in the home, as most dogs are not suitable for such an environment.
WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT ADOPTION OF WORKING DOGS
Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland (commonly known as Lackland Air Force Base), the base in Texas where all military dogs and their handlers are trained, handles all adoptions for the United States Armed Forces. The TSA manages airport security dog adoptions. Mission K9 Rescue, a non-profit organization based in Houston, Texas, helps facilitate the adoption of contract military working dogs, military working dogs, and police dogs.
If you are interested in adopting a retired or reassigned military working dog, consider contacting adoption coordinators or submitting an application. And if you live within two or three hours of San Antonio, you might want to consider applying for the Military Working Dog Foster Program.
