Military Working Dogs Retire From Military Service Too
Other dogs pass their training with flying colors, have good careers with their human military handlers, and finish their K9 tours of duty. When a military working dog is being retired from the military, thats the other major source of working dogs for adoption.
A lot of working dogs get adopted by their handlers in uniform, but not all. Some military members would love nothing more than to adopt their K9 working dog, but military duty prevents them from doing so due to multiple deployments, injuries, reassignment to remote duty locations, etc.
What Is A Police Dog
Many police departments around the country employ special K-9 units that assist officers in everything from finding missing people to searching for evidence at crime scenes. These heavily trained dogs are true partners to their human companions, working tirelessly alongside them to keep their handlersand the rest of ussafe.
Can Military Working Dogs Be Adopted
Military Working Dog Adoption Program. Thank you for your interest in the DoD Military Working Dog Adoption Program. Dogs available for adoption are ones that do not meet the DoD criteria for government work. Some of the available dogs may have hip, back, or other medical issues that prevent them from working.
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Career Change Service Dogs
I have an aunt that adopted a service dog that didnât make it through the training. Something to keep in mind for readers. Itâs a tough process to find the right dogs for these programs and sometimes they just arenât able to make it.
But these little guys who sadly, fail out of the program, are super smart and need a home. So if you donât need a service dog but are looking for great little pups who need homes, you can also reach out to these groups to find out where they send the pups that donât make the cut.
If youre thinking about adopting a Yorkshire Terrier, a Bulldog, or an Irish Wolfhound then its highly unlikely you will find what you are looking for when trying to adopt from a service dog organization.
QUICK TIP: As I mentioned the two most common dog breeds in service dog organizations are Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Read up on these two breeds to make sure their personality, temperament, and energy level will fit your lifestyle.
While Im not ruling out that you will never be able to adopt one of these or many other dog breeds at a service dog organization I will say its highly unlikely.
Based on our experience here are a few simple facts about what kind of dogs you will find in service dog adoption programs:
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Military Puppy Foster Homes In Texas
A good example of this is found at Joint Base San Antonio / Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Lackland has a working dog breeding program that features a Puppy Development Program that sends the dogs home at age eight weeks to live with qualified and dedicated foster volunteers from the greater San Antonio/Austin area.
This is intended to give military puppies a chance to play and grow in different environments and learn how to socialize properly.
This program, offered to those who live within driving distance of the base, is restricted to homes that meet certain requirements such as a fenced-in back yard. Homes with children are permitted if the kids are age five or older.
The program is specific to Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, but other posts, bases, and installations that train or use working dogs may have similar options. Contact the base Security Forces office or on-post law enforcement to learn who to contact about participating.
You Can Adopt A Retired Us Air Force Military Working Dog
Seems hard to believe, but the U.S. Air Force says it’s having a difficult time finding homes for retired military working dogs.
The dogs are typically retired when they’re ages 10-12.
While young puppies rejected by the military for various reasons typically are snapped up right away, the Air Force has been struggling recently to find forever homes for older dogs, according to PawBuzz.
Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio is where military working dogs are trained. The most common breeds put into service are German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and Belgian malinois.
Every , when theyre retiring, they do a behavioral test and an adoption test to make sure theyre not going to be food aggressive or bite a small child or chase the mailman down the street, MAC Chief Petty Officer Jason Silvis told PawBuzz.
To adopt, you must be screened. You shouldn’t have any children in your home under age 5. And you must be willing to visit San Antonio to pick up your pup.
Former handlers and law enforcement agencies get first pick, but there’s typically plenty of remaining four-legged pals to choose from.
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Who Is Doing The Adoption
There are many programs that help place military dogs. Some of these are focused specifically on military dogs, others may offer service animals from a variety of backgrounds. Be sure to ask if you are specifically interested in a military dog trained by the Army, Air Force, etc.
Criteria for the animals up for adoption will vary depending on the agency. You may find that the service dogs available from some providers must be at least two years old, and there may be specific health requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Retired Military Dog
Adopting a retired military dog is a completely free program. Theres no cost associated with adopting a animal if you are approved for the adoption process. The owner will ultimately be responsible for all costs dog care as well as transportation. If you adopt a pet as a service professional or as a law enforcement agency, you will be responsible for establishing a transportation solution for the dog from a facility.
There is a strong public interest in adopting retired military working animals so prioritizing the thousands of applications each year comes down to finding a person that has been approved and is next in line for the approval process. The program is a first-come-first-served basis and the suitable dog goes to the next party that has waited the longest after the application process.
If you are going to be coming for a service visit to meet a dog in the program and cant make the appointment, you need to make sure that you cancel the appointment as soon as possible to make room for another applicant. As this is a program with demand from thousands of participants across the United States is very important that you work to maintain appointments when required.
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Why Are Former Working Dogs Up For Adoption
There are various reasons that working dogs are put up for adoption. One of the main reasons is due to age. Many service dogs work up until theyre about 7 to 8, or 10-12 years old, these pups have worked hard and are ready to retire when they reach this golden age. Other dogs may have failed their training, whether for police, military or other types of service. By failing, we mean that these dogs generally dont have the personality thats needed for the type of work they were in training to perform. These precious pups are also called career change dogs.
While these dogs are labeled as failed, theyre anything but failures! In fact, to even be accepted into training takes intelligence, agility, etc. These pups were simply too nice or too scared to do the work, thats all. They just didnt have what it takes in order to pass their training. One more notethese pups are generally younger dogs that didnt meet the requirements for their training. With a failed service dog adoption, you can rest assured your pup will be a wonderful part of your family. Then there are other dogs that are retired because of health issues. Maybe they were injured in the line of duty and arent healthy enough to go back to work. However, theyre healthy enough to live long lives with the right family.
The dogs who made it through training and have seen active service may have been trained to:
- Search & rescue
- Detect explosives
Improve Your Trainer Skills
Caring for a retired police dog requires a combination of firmness and understanding. If your training skills leave a little to be desired, or if youve never had a dog, you should start with this crucial step. So, if you are selected for adoption from one of these dogs, you will be ready to welcome him into your home.
To do this, take dog training lessons. Talk to former dog handlers, learn about the potential problems of a retired police dog, and most importantly, the best ways to deal with these dogs. Find out directly from organizations that work with these dogs and make sure your home is adequate to accommodate such an animal. Its understandable and very honorable that you want to give a retired police dog a great end of life, but first, youll need to make sure you have all the resources to properly care for them.
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Requirements For Adopting A Military Dog
The specific requirements for adopting a working dog will vary depending on the agency, but lets examine the rules for the Pets For Patriots program to get an idea of what you can expect in this area:
- Driving distance requirement: Pets For Patriots requires the applicant to live within a specific, reasonable driving distance to a shelter that has partnered with the agency, and within a specific driving distance of a veterinary partner.
- Proof of Service: Military members are required to provide proof of current service or military discharge.
- Pets For Patriots requires additional documentation for those suffering from mental health issues.
- Pets For Patriots does not train or adopt animals intended to be service dogs. It adopts out canines specifically for companionship purposes. That means the dog can have a service background, but it will not receive any service training as part of the adoption process.
Honor The Unsung Heroes
The number of human lives that have been saved as a result of these courageous public servants cannot be minimized. And some military dogs never make it home.
Veterans Day is designated for the observation and appreciation for the brave men and women and dogs who serve the county in all manners of public service, especially the military.
If you feel you have the right stuff to offer one of the magnificent, unsung, 4-legged heroes a great home, check out the official Air Force website for more information on adopting a retired military working dog.
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Is Adopting A Failed Or Retired Service Dog Right For You
Theres a lot to consider when looking to adopt one of these great dogs including the following:
1. Adoption time: it can take a long time to adopt a failed or retired service dog. Youll generally find a long waiting list for these special dogs. Understand going into this process that youll have to get on a waiting list, and it could take months or years before youre up for a dog thats ready for adoption.
2. Adoption prices: an adoption may not cost you anything, while it could cost you over $1000 to adopt a dog. The reason for this is due to the training a retired service dog has received. In addition, these fees are placed back into the facility to help feed and care for dogs they currently have. It may be cheaper to adopt your fur baby from a shelterjust something to keep in mind.
3. Breeds limited: service dogs generally tend to be from specific breeds such as German shepherds, Labs, Golden Retrievers, etc. If youd like another type of dog, maybe one thats smaller, then youll need to find a breeder for that specific breed or adopt a dog from a shelter or dog rescue.
4. Adoption requirements: each organization will have its own adopt requirements that youll have to meet. If you dont meet those requirements, you wont be able to adopt a dog. Its that simple. Requirements may include having a fenced yard, a home thats big enough for a retired or career change dog, and more.
Air Force Is Desperately Looking For People To Adopt Some Of The Retired Military Working Dogs
Military dogs want the same things people want when they retire: comfort, some peace and quiet, and quality time with their loved ones.
Thats not too much to ask for a pup who served their country, now is it?
While 90% of canine veterans end up with their handlers, a few end up available for adoption.
Air Force officials at Lackland Air Force Base, the San Antonio base are worried over the sharp disinterest faced by the retired military working dogs post-retirement.
While the trainee puppies who dont make the cut for active duty are readily adopted, the older K9s yearn for a home but keep getting overlooked.
Source: Demetrius Lester/Wikimedia Commons | Senior Airman William OBrien/Wikimedia Commons
The officials have now turned to the people for help. They have requested potential adoptive parties to consider retired K9s too.
These hardworking K9s have dedicated their lives to the safety of the nation and its people. They will be assets to their new family in every aspect.
Lackland Air Force Base, the San Antonio base where all military pups receive their training, handles all their own adoptions, as does the Transportation Security Administration.
There are also organizations like Mission K9 Rescue, which help facilitate adoptions of contract military working dogs, which are often harder to reunite with their handlers.
You can expect most retired military working dogs available for adoption to be between the ages of 10 and 12.
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Are Military Dogs Male Or Female
While we tend to think of MWDs as only males, female dogs excel in military work, and are often used for patrol and detection. Military working dogs and their handlers get their start training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, the home to the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program.
Can You Buy Retired Military Dogs
Military dog adoption uniquely allows civilians to rehome military working dogs. Military working dogs are also known as, MWD. In brief, these dogs are especially unique as theyre retired from serving. Notably retired from duty, military working dogs are now on a special mission, by all means, to find a forever home.
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Military Bases May Offer Foster Or Adoption Programs
If you decide you want to work directly with a military agency, you are in luck. Some bases have adoption programs not just for retired working dogs, but also for bona fide foster care for animals that are in a military training program and need a foster family to socialize with during that training.
The Ultimate List Of Service Dog Schools With Adoption Programs
The ultimate list has not yet arrived. Sorry folks I did not have it prepped in time to publish with this article.
Im in the process of sifting through hundreds of service dog organization websites to find the exact adoption page on each site.
In a few days Ill have that page live so make sure and subscribe to our newsletter, add us to your RSS feed, or check back with us in the next few days.
So what do you guys think?
Do you have any questions on how to adopt a retired service dog?
Have you already adopted a career change guide dog?
Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.
UPDATE: Can you believe we wrote the original article on how to adopt a service dog way back in 2007 .
Remember two things:
Service dogs are well bred, socialized, and trained. However, youll still want to keep up with their training.
If this is your first dog or if you need to brush up on your knowledge and skills I highly recommend reading an introductory book on dog training. One of our favorites is Puppies for Dummies , a quick and easy read that will give you a solid foundation for your new dog.
Best of luck finding your career changed service dog! Let us know if you have any questions.
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