If you’ve wanted to adopt a military working dog, you now have the chance. According to an announcement by Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, military dogs that are in retirement are looking for families to adopt them.
However, in order to be a potential adopter, you need to meet various requirements, including a 6-foot fence and no children younger than the age of 5 in your home.
Plus, you’ll need to provide 2 references and fill out paperwork where you’re to outline where the dog will live and how you’ll take care of it. And, the process of adoption may take up to two years.
Adopting a Retired Military Dog Is Now Possible
According to the Training Squadron which trains military dogs, civilian law enforcement agencies have top priority for adoption of these highly-skilled dogs. And, the previous handlers are next in the line and after them, the general public.
A spokesperson from Air Force noted that adoptions for all these dogs will happen at the 341st Training Readiness Squadron at Lackland, the base of Air Force.
Jerry Britt who’s the 37th Training Wing MWD dispositions coordinator explains that she works on matching dogs with potential adopters. She notes that each of these dogs is tested for aggressiveness and monitored in their interaction with humans and other animals.
Despite more interest in adoption of puppies who don’t advance into the military dog training program, these dogs that have served the country have good manners and are very obedient.
Britt is now helping a professor from Tennessee to adopt his second former military dog. Robert Klesges had adopted a German shepherd named Fida.
She was a combat tracker for the Marines and worked as a dog for detection at the Joint Base. The dog became part of Klesges’s family for 5 years before she passed away.
Klesges recalls how the dog was almost like a human with fur because she was so smart and that she deserved being treated like a queen.
Klesges is now waiting to go back to the base when a new dog in retirement is ready for him to take home. If you’re considering becoming an adopter too, please contact mwd.adoptions@us.af.mil to learn more.
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