War Dog Adoption Requests On The Rise Following Bin Laden Mission

Military War Dogs on mission

Life after the military is looking brighter than ever for America’s four-legged veterans since one of their own helped in the mission to kill Osama bin Laden.

War dog organizations say the number of people asking about adopting retired military canines has risen dramatically since the mission involving Cairo, the Navy SEALs dog tasked with tracking anyone who tried to escape from bin Laden’s compound and alerting the special operations forces to anyone approaching.

While about 300 retired U.S. military dogs are put up for adoption each year, military officials say they’ve received more than 400 adoption applications in the three weeks since the May 2 raid. In past generations, most military dogs were euthanized once their tours of duty were done.

“They made a really big deal about Cairo being a super dog but all dogs in the military are super dogs,” said Ron Aiello, president of the U.S. War Dogs Association. “These dogs are fully trained, are worth probably $40,000 to $50,000 each at least, and it’s a dog that has been saving American lives. It’s kind of a hero in a way.”

While these dogs, which are usually Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers, are considered heroes, they haven’t always been treated as such. After the Vietnam War, only 204 of an estimated 4,900 war dogs returned to the United States, according to military dog organizations. The others were euthanized, given to the South Vietnamese army or abandoned by soldiers trying to save the dogs.

That changed in 2000 when President Bill Clinton signed a law allowing the dogs to be adopted. Dog lovers say the military has made dramatic strides since then. Last year, 338 dogs were adopted, including 34 that were given to police departments or other government agencies.

None are euthanized now, said Gerry Proctor, a spokesman for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where the military’s dog adoption program is based.

“All the animals find a home,” he said. “There’s a six-month waiting list right now for people wanting to adopt. And (the applications) have gone up substantially since the raid.”

Officially, military dogs are considered equipment and retired dogs are excess or surplus equipment. Debbie Kandoll, founder of the nonprofit organization Military Working Dog Adoptions, wants the military to reclassify the dogs as canine veterans. That would take an act of Congress, but it could also ensure that all dogs shipped out of the United States are brought back.

“Uncle Sam gave the dogs a ride over. He should give them a ride back,” Kandoll said.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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Diane McCornack
12 years ago

AMEN to that last statement.

Erika Pettite
12 years ago

Just like Greyhounds.  After their racing days are over, they are still wonderful canines!  For the military-trained dogs, they need to have a life after such a treacherous adventure to come back to the US and be adopted by a loving family and live the rest of its life in peace and harmony!

Kathy Houtami
12 years ago

God bless President Clinton for “in 2000 when President Bill Clinton signed a law allowing the dogs to be adopted”

Smileyz143
Smileyz143
12 years ago

Such great news that people are starting to recognize the heros they truly are.

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