For Veteran's Day: Please Support the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act

Third time's the charm, right? I do think it's an appropriate Veteran's Day post, though, to ask my readers again (I wrote about it previously in March and in May) to support and spread the word on the Canine Members of the Armed Forces act.

(having not been to Guam myself, image of the war dog memorial is linked from the DobermansDen article on Doberman military service)

Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act

In March, I first posted asking for readers to support the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act (S. 2134).

Well, the wheels of the government indeed turn slowly. The ASPCA's Advocacy Center now has a form you can fill out in order to ask your senator to support the bill, which is a nice easy way to do it if you haven't done so yet.

Apparently, according to GovTrack.us there is also HR 4103 Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act, the summary of which reads:

Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to classify military working dogs as canine members of the Armed Forces. Requires that such dogs no longer be classified as equipment. Provides that if a dog should be retired, and no suitable adoption is available at the military facility where the dog is located, the dog may transfered to the 341st Training Squadron or to another location for adoption. Authorizes the acceptance of the donation of frequent traveler miles to facilitate the adoption of a dog. Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a system to provide for the lifetime veterinary care of retired, adopted dogs. Requires such care to meet standards that the Secretary shall establish and periodically update. Provides for coverage of veterinary costs. Directs the Secretary to create a decoration or other appropriate recognition to recognize dogs that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in service to the United States.

HR 4103 is a step further along than S 2134, in that it has been both Introduced and also referred to Committee. The GovTrack page also says that the bill has a 4% chance of passing, which is kind of discouraging. It also has 15 co-sponsors, both Democrats and Republicans, so that's hopeful. This seemed like an appropriate topic for Memorial Day. Military Working Dogs deserve to be remembered for their accomplishments and duties carried out.

Book Review: Soldier Dogs, by Maria Goodavage

I anticipated the publication of Soldier Dogs for a long time. Not only am I a working dog nerd (which yes, extends to military working dogs) but I also read Dogster.com daily, and Maria Goodavage is the news editor there. When I didn't win Dogster's giveaway for the book, I ordered it through the library to check out and looked forward to its arrival. I'm leaning towards buying it; I really did quite like it.

At Ease, Sgt. Rex

Well, I'm about a week behind with the news, but I figured the information was still valuable to those of you following at home.

Sgt. Rex is home with Megan Leavey now! Last Friday, Good Good Friday (as the Philosopher Mouse called it!), Corporal Leavey went and picked him up.

(photo from Sgt. Rex's Facebook page)

From Lohud.com

“I’m so happy,” Leavey said on Wednesday, Rex’s first full day living in Rockland County. “I was nervous at first that maybe he wouldn’t recognize me, but it was like no time has passed.”

Awesome. And by all accounts, Sgt. Rex is settling in just fine. So, do you think that they call him Rex, or Sarge, or what?

Stories like this are why I support the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act. I hope you do too, and write to your representatives.

Statistics roundup Sunday

I'm not going to lie, I love looking at my statistics.

Where people click the link that brings them here, what search terms people use, how long they stay, where they are, etc. It's all really neat and interesting to me. Sometimes it even gives me post ideas! After all, it's good to give people what they want!

Most recently, "Mean Doberman" has brought them to this post: Mean Doberman and also How to Make a Doberman Mean. I cannot comment on whether I feel these readers have learned from these posts in the way I hoped they would; granted, I also cannot comment on their intentions.

"Angry Doberman" brings one to Breed Prejudices: They Always Surprise Me and also Subversive Sunday: Doberman Breed Acceptance. "Doberman Love" also brings one to Subversive Sunday.

Lately, "Canine members of the armed forces act" has brought people to Support S.2134 Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act. And others have been searching "Kevin Reese and Grek", which brings them to Military Working Dogs, as the picture of the Lab and his handler are apparently Kevin Reese and Grek, from 2007. One wonders if Grek was retired and adopted by Reese, as recently Cpl. Megan Leavey was able to do with Sgt. Rex, or if there were other circumstances. With the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act going up, Military Working Dogs seem to be getting a lot of attention. Which is good.

To close on a lighter note, "no bake dog treats" brings visitors to Tasty Tuesday: No Bake Peanut Butter Dog Treats.

Support S.2134 Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act

I saw this Act mentioned on Dogster, and also on a blog I happened across in the wake of the Crufts vet check "scandal" of 2012, Honest Dog.

See, I didn't know, not really, that dogs are stil considered "equipment" by the United States military. Never crossed my mind. Why would it? Dogs are alive. They aren't guns, they aren't boots. They're living creatures that people bond with and love. If a random Afghani street dog gets shipped back stateside, why wouldn't a military working dog like, say, Cairo?

(puppy Elka, with some Red, White, and Blue)