The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee has made no bones about it--retired law enforcement dogs aren't just surplus property.
The committee has approved House-passed legislation (HR 173) to allow the handlers of federal law enforcement dogs to adopt them once they have reached the end of their working careers.
An ammendment to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, the bill would allow surplus canines to be donated to their handlers, who would assume all costs and responsiblities related to the dogs. Under current law, when a dog's service ends, the animal is either auctioned off, caged or destroyed.
Recently, some handlers have received special waivers allowing them to keep their dogs. Under the new bill, such waivers will no longer be necessary.
"Essentially, this bill streamlines the adoption of federal law enforcement canines by handlers and allows for a more humane end to a canine's career," said Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., sponsor of the legislation.
He described the "surplus property" law as "hardly humane treatment of an animal that has spent its life protecting Americans and upholding our laws." The 500 dogs currently serving the federal government are used by the Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and other law enforcement agencies.
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