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Military Dogs Now Allowed To Retire In US

By R. Siva Kumar | Update Date: Dec 01, 2015 09:18 AM EST

Salute the military dog.

U.S. President Barack Obama did so when he signed a bill opening the door for American military dogs to retire in the United States. This is now part of the policy update of the National Defense Authorization Act, specified by the American Kennel Club.

Hence, the military dogs will become retirees and then return to the U.S, probably for an emotional reunion with the handlers of the dogs while in the army----who will also share the retirement position.

"This is a great day for military heroes on both ends of the leash. We believe all our veterans - two-footed and four-footed - should come back to a hero's welcome," said Robin Ganzert, Humane Association president, according to Voice of America.

Interestingly, so far, overseas retired dogs have not been able to come back to their handlers, whose requests to take back their dogs were almost always turned down.

Moreover, there is also a clause to erase the "traditional 20-year, all-or-nothing retirement plan" for troops that will be enlisted from 2018.

Even as a number of wounded soldiers are returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, it is seen that the U.S. veterans require service, and the Humane Association has counselled that military dogs should get back to their handlers.

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