[romefloydhumanesocietychairs] Fwd: Serving our four-legged veterans

From: Elizabeth Ard <elizabethard@xxxxxx>
To: romefloydhumanesocietychairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Carolyn Orem <texasshadow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:42:45 -0400

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Change.org" <mail@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Serving our four-legged veterans
> Date: March 29, 2014 at 12:52:20 PM EDT
> To: elizabethard@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Reply-To: "Change.org" <mail@xxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Elizabeth - There's a new petition taking off on Change.org, and we think you 
> might be interested in signing it:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Too Cute To Be Equipment, Too Brave To Go Down Without A Fight!
> 
> By Lisa Phillips
> Converse, Texas
> 
> 
> 
> Sign Lisa's Petition
> 
> 
> 
>  Follow the bill on Facebook 
> at:https://www.facebook.com/MilitaryWorkingDogReclassification
> 
> Currently Military Working Dogs (MWDs) are still referred to as equipment. 
> When the military doesn’t need them any more they are considered excess 
> equipment and the military no longer has responsibility for them. They are 
> usually retired for medical reasons. Medical bills for our retired MWDs can 
> be astronomically high.
> 
> During the 112th Congress, North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones (R) 
> introduced the House version of The Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act on 
> 28 February 2012 and Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) introduced 
> the Senate version of The Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act on 27 
> February 2012.
> 
> This bill had bi-partisan support, bicameral support and support north & 
> south of the Mason/Dixon Line. The Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act 
> uses no tax-payer money. It does not take away from human Veterans' care.
> 
> Parts of the Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act were amended into and 
> passed in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.
> 
> Six United States Senators sent a letter to Leon Panetta, Secretary of 
> Defense urging him to take advantage of the statutory authority they gave him 
> to transport Military Working Dogs to a suitable location for adoption. They 
> encourage him to implement the statutory change allowing him to provide 
> guidance to improve the quality and lower the costs of veterinary care in a 
> manner that allows for nonprofit organizations to execute this provision. 
> They suggest that he provide a letter of commendation to each MWD that 
> identifies the MWD's meritorious service and provide additional recognition 
> as appropriate. All as allowed thanks to the amendment to the NDAA. While not 
> in the NDAA they encourage Secretary Panetta to reexamine the current 
> classification of MWDs as equipment and reclassify them as canine members of 
> the Armed Forces.
> 
> Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force replied to the Senators’ 
> letter. Regarding transportation he indicates that many adopters pay 
> transportation costs. He acknowledges the veterinary care portion. He 
> indicated that he provides letters of commendation to retiring MWDs as 
> warranted. He indicated that MWDs are not referred to or treated as 
> equipment, but did not offer to change the Air Force Manual to reflect that.
> 
> On 3 October 2013 we received a copy of a Bullet Background Paper on Military 
> Working Dogs Classified as Equipment. PURPOSE:  “Provide information on AF 
> Classification of military working dogs (MWD) as equipment. SUMMARY:  
> “Wording contained in AFMAN 31-219 referring to MWDs as equipment is 
> misleading compared to the level of respect military personnel have for their 
> K-9 partners and care given to them. This verbiage is outdated and is being 
> rewritten.  This new, updated publication will indicate the true level of 
> appreciation and respect the USAF has for these valuable members of our USAF 
> team.”
> 
> Our current goal is to remind the Air Force that we watching for the updated 
> manual.
>  
> 
> Sign Lisa's Petition
> 
> 
> 
> The person (or organization) who started this petition is not affiliated with 
> Change.org.Change.org did not create this petition and is not responsible for 
> the petition content.
> 
> This email was sent by Change.org to elizabethard@xxxxxxxxxxx. You can edit 
> your email preferences or unsubscribe from Change.org emails.
> 
> Start a petition on Change.org
> 
> Mailing Address: 216 West 104th Street, Suite #130 · New York, NY 10025 · USA
> 
> 
> 
> 

Elizabeth Ard
elizabethard@xxxxxx
[romefloydhumanesocietychairs] Fwd: Serving our four-legged veterans

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