There is a bill in the Senate Armed Forces Committee, (S. 2134), that is called Canine Members of the Armed Forces, and is supported by the ASPCA. First, before I go any further NO FEDERAL FUNDS OR TAXPAYER DOLLARS WILL BE USED!!!!!
This bill, if passed, will would allow military service dogs to be reclassified as "Canine Members of the Armed Forces", instead of "equipment". Because they are currently classified as "equipment" many of the dogs that used to PROTECT our military service personnel in both Iran and Afghanistan by sniffing out IED's and other threats to our service personnel.
What happens when these animals get old and cannot perform their duties any longer? Many are euthanized. Even though MOST of our service personnel who train with these courageous dogs want to adopt them and take them home.
But Senator Rand Paul REFUSES to support this bill! DO NOT VOTE EVER AGAIN FOR RAND PAUL! He has lost my vote!
Here is his response. (Which, in fact, is WRONG!...because, as I stated first off, NO FEDERAL FUNDS OR TAXPAYER DOLLARS WILL BE USED!!!)
Thank
you for taking the time to contact me regarding recognizing military working
dogs. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.
The
U.S. Armed Forces and other government agencies have been using working dogs for
a variety of security needs. These working dogs are essential for both military
and security operations for their abilities to be used in explosive and narcotic
detection, patrols, tracking and scouting.
In
February 2012, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Canine
Members of the Armed Forces Act (S. 2134). This legislation would change the
classification of military working dogs from "equipment" to "canine members of
the Armed Forces." In addition, S. 2134 would create a government program to
provide for veterinary care for all retired military working dogs.
I
do not support S. 2134. I can understand the attachment a handler has to their
animal or the desire of others to adopt these retired working dogs, but working
dogs are and should remain classified as equipment. In addition, I believe it
is to disrespectful to every veteran of the Armed Forces, who are currently
facing a 325 percent increase in TRICARE fees under President Obama's Defense
Budget for 2013, to see these animals receive their veterinary bills paid for
life by the taxpayers.
S.
2134 has been referred to the Senate Armed Forces Committee, of which I am not a
member, where it awaits further consideration.
Sincerely,
Rand
Paul, MD
United States Senator
This post was edited on 9/13 4:43 PM by ULSports
This bill, if passed, will would allow military service dogs to be reclassified as "Canine Members of the Armed Forces", instead of "equipment". Because they are currently classified as "equipment" many of the dogs that used to PROTECT our military service personnel in both Iran and Afghanistan by sniffing out IED's and other threats to our service personnel.
What happens when these animals get old and cannot perform their duties any longer? Many are euthanized. Even though MOST of our service personnel who train with these courageous dogs want to adopt them and take them home.
But Senator Rand Paul REFUSES to support this bill! DO NOT VOTE EVER AGAIN FOR RAND PAUL! He has lost my vote!
Here is his response. (Which, in fact, is WRONG!...because, as I stated first off, NO FEDERAL FUNDS OR TAXPAYER DOLLARS WILL BE USED!!!)
Thank
you for taking the time to contact me regarding recognizing military working
dogs. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.
The
U.S. Armed Forces and other government agencies have been using working dogs for
a variety of security needs. These working dogs are essential for both military
and security operations for their abilities to be used in explosive and narcotic
detection, patrols, tracking and scouting.
In
February 2012, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Canine
Members of the Armed Forces Act (S. 2134). This legislation would change the
classification of military working dogs from "equipment" to "canine members of
the Armed Forces." In addition, S. 2134 would create a government program to
provide for veterinary care for all retired military working dogs.
I
do not support S. 2134. I can understand the attachment a handler has to their
animal or the desire of others to adopt these retired working dogs, but working
dogs are and should remain classified as equipment. In addition, I believe it
is to disrespectful to every veteran of the Armed Forces, who are currently
facing a 325 percent increase in TRICARE fees under President Obama's Defense
Budget for 2013, to see these animals receive their veterinary bills paid for
life by the taxpayers.
S.
2134 has been referred to the Senate Armed Forces Committee, of which I am not a
member, where it awaits further consideration.
Sincerely,
Rand
Paul, MD
United States Senator
This post was edited on 9/13 4:43 PM by ULSports
