For Immediate Release

Contact: Subhan Cheema (Blumenthal)

(202) 224-0335

December 7, 2018

BLUMENTHAL & MANCHIN INTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO HONOR FORMER MILITARY WORKING DOGS & ENCOURAGE ADOPTION BY THEIR FORMER SOLDIER HANDLERS

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced a Senate resolution to recognize military working dogs and their soldier handlers who served in the U.S. Army’s Tactical Explosive Detection Dog (TEDD) Program. The resolution also encourages the Army and other government agencies with tactical explosive detection dogs to prioritize adoption of these dogs by their former handlers. More than four years after the TEDD program ended, many of these dogs and handlers have not yet been reunited.

Military working dogs (MWDs) are highly effective in detecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that can be otherwise difficult, if not impossible, to find. The bravery of military working dogs was highlighted last month in Afghanistan, where Maiko – a MWD supporting Army Rangers from the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington – died after saving the life of his handler and other Rangers.

“Maiko, an Army Ranger dog who died over the Thanksgiving holiday last month in Afghanistan while saving the life of his soldier handler, is the most recent example of a long and proud tradition of service and sacrifice from our military working dogs,” said Blumenthal. “These heroic dogs deserve respect, care, and loyal companionship after their service – preferably from the handlers they protected in combat – and we should be doing everything we can to ensure that handlers are able to easily adopt their military working dogs when they retire.”

“Military working dogs have been an important asset to service members for generations. Not only do they help protect service members, they are a morale booster to those who serve in some of the most difficult, war-torn places in the world. These dogs and their trainers and handlers deserve our utmost respect and gratitude,” said Manchin.

Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has long been a champion of military working dogs and has secured provisions in both the FY 2013 and FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Acts to ensure these dogs return home and to prioritize adoption by former handlers when they retire.

The full text of the resolution is available below.

Title: Recognizing the honorable service of military working dogs and soldier handlers in the tactical explosive detection dog program of the Army and encouraging the Army and other government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, with former tactical explosive detection dogs to prioritize adoption of the dogs to former tactical explosive detection dog handlers.

Whereas the 341st Training Squadron, 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base provides highly trained military working dogs to the Department of Defense and other government agencies;

Whereas in 2010, the operational needs of the Army for military working dogs increased without an increase in resources to train a sufficient number of dogs for the detection of improvised explosive devices at the 341st Training Squadron;

Whereas the Army initiated the tactical explosive detection dog program in August 2010 as a nontraditional military working dog program to train and field improvised explosive device detection dogs for use in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom;

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dog program was created to reduce casualties from improvised explosive devices in response to an increase in the use of asymmetric weapons by the enemy;

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dogs were a unique subset of military working dogs because the Army selected and trained soldiers from deploying units to serve as temporary handlers for only the duration of deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom;

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dogs and their soldier handlers, like other military working dog and handler teams, formed strong bonds while training for combat and performing extremely dangerous improvised explosive device detection missions in service to the United States;

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dog program was a nontraditional military working dog program that terminated in February 2014;

Whereas at the termination of the tactical explosive detection dog program in February 2014, neither United States law nor Department of Defense policy established an adoption order priority, and Department of Defense policy only provided that military working dogs be adopted by former handlers, law enforcement agencies, and other persons capable of humanely caring for the animals;

Whereas an August 2016 report to Congress by the Air Force entitled “Tactical Explosive Detector Dog (TEDD) Adoption Report” concluded that the Army had a limited transition window for the disposition of tactical explosive detection dogs and the lack of a formal comprehensive plan contributed to the disorganized disposition process for the tactical explosive detection dogs;

Whereas the August 2016 report stated that, in 2014, the Army disposed of 229 tactical explosive detection dogs;

Whereas 40 tactical explosive detection dogs were adopted by handlers, 47 dogs were adopted by private individuals, 70 dogs were transferred to Army units, 17 dogs were transferred to other government agencies, 46 dogs were transferred to law enforcement agencies, and 9 dogs were deceased;

Whereas the disposition of tactical explosive detection dogs was poorly executed, proper procedures outlined in Department of Defense policy were ignored, and, as a result, the former soldier handlers were not provided the opportunity to adopt their tactical explosive detection dogs;

Whereas the Army should have deliberately planned for the disposition of the tactical explosive detection dogs and provided appropriate time to review and consider adoption applications to mitigate handler and civilian adoption issues;

Whereas section 342(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92; 129 Stat. 793) amended section 2583(c) of title 10, United States Code, to modify the list of persons authorized to adopt a military animal and prioritize the list with preference, respectively, to former handlers, other persons capable of humanely caring for the animal, and law enforcement agencies;

Whereas since 2000, Congress has passed legislation that protects military working dogs, promotes their welfare, and recognizes the needs of their veteran handlers;

Whereas Congress continues to provide oversight of military working dogs to prevent a reoccurrence of the disposition issues that affected tactical explosive detection dogs;

Whereas former soldier handlers should be reunited with their tactical explosive detection dogs;

Whereas congressional recognition of the military service of tactical explosive detection dogs and their former soldier handlers is a small measure of gratitude this legislative body can convey; and

Whereas over 4 years have passed since the termination of the tactical explosive detection dog program: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress—

(1) recognizes the service of military working dogs and soldier handlers from the tactical explosive detection dog program;

(2) acknowledges that not all tactical explosive detection dogs were adopted by their former soldier handlers;

(3) encourages the Army and other government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, with former tactical explosive detection dogs to prioritize adoption to former tactical explosive detection dog handlers; and

(4) honors the sacrifices made by tactical explosive detection dogs and their soldier handlers in combat.

This Resolution can be viewed at https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-concurrent-resolution/58/text.