The problem:

As the military has transitioned to privatized housing, there is little to no consistency across the services or by duty station regarding housing pet policies, specifically numerical limits and breed. These policies need to be consistent to prevent service members from having to relinquish their animals when moving - animals they consider members of the family and that contribute positively to their morale and family life. With so much uncertainly in military life because of constant moves, deployments and potentially dangerous working conditions, pets are a stabilizing component for helping families in stressful times. Some service members are required to live in government housing and, as more troops operate in a joint environment, the policy should account for these realities.

The solution:

Military-pet advocacy groups have created a petition on Change.org to help gain support and awareness of this issue. The most effective solution is to develop a standardized, consistent military policy for all pet owners, regardless of breed. The military would instead focus on strong enforcement of general dangerous dog policies and a robust pet education program to ensure troop’s safety and quality of life. This is a more effective and efficient solution to protecting military personnel.  Additionally, we ask for a task force to study the effectiveness of military housing breed bans and whether these bans have made troops safer.

We propose the following recommendations to be taken into consideration when developing a consistent pet policy:

• Require all pets to be registered with the base veterinarian, be micrchipped, up to date on vaccinations and have rabies licensing
• Create a breed-neutral zero tolorance policy for any dangerous dog
• Adjust private contracts with housing partners for consistancy and breed neutrality
• Require owners to meet city/country pet standards
• Create a consistent number of pets allowed per household. Pet limitations might be based on house square footage, and differentiate between cat, dog, avian or aquarium limitations
• Remove weight limitations. Large breed dog owners should not be punished if their dog is a well-behaved family pet
• Observe and enforce leash and anti-tethering laws
• Promote proper pet socialization by including a leash-free dog park in the base neighborhoods

We are confident that if the military leads on this issue, others will follow.

Its takes a fighting team to raise awareness for this issue and fight for success. The following organizations have shown their support in our effort to Standardize Military Pet Policies.

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Stories of Those Affected

• Please Standardize Military Pet Policies! One family’s experience living on base highlights the need for a universal pet policy in military housing
• The Impacts of Inconsistent Pet Restrictions on Base Military families across the country share their stories
• Taking Action for Military Families and Their Pets Those signing a petition to standardize pet regulations on military bases hope to stop the senseless separation of families
• Keeping the Family Together Inconsistent pet restrictions in military housing force some families to choose which pets to keep
• Losing Knox A military family suffers a loss at home
• Army Max Max’s guardians, one an active duty Army fire support specialist, work hard to keep him with them despite the difficulties
• Military Pet Policies Tear Families Apart Pet restrictions within military housing force many families to give up their beloved animals

Our Sources

The following are official documentations from the Department of Defense and US Military that concern the policies that we are attempting to change.

• Military Veterinarian Policy on Breed Bans

  The official policy letter on dangerous dog regulations from the Department of Defense Veterinary Service Activity to Army Veterinary Services Officers. The letter states the Department of Defense veterinarian policy against breed bans. Advocates feel that having this official policy position creates a disconnect when military installation commands support private housing imposing inconsistent, unscientific bans and policies.

• Response from Army Chief of Staff Regarding Congressional Query on Breed Bans

  Letter states that breed bans are "relatively consistent" by base and service and that the decision on banning breeds is up to privatized housing and not the military veterinarian community.

Contact SMPP

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