III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 160 

Honoring the service to United States Armed Forces provided by military 

working dogs and contract working dogs, also known as ‘‘war dogs’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 9, 2017 

Mr. NELSON (for himself, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. TILLIS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Armed Services 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the service to United States Armed Forces provided by military working dogs and contract working 

dogs, also known as ‘‘war dogs’’. 

Whereas March 13, 2017, marks the 75th anniversary of the 

establishment of the United States Army military working dog program, which officially began on March 13, 

1942; 

Whereas each military working dog (referred to in this preamble as a ‘‘war dog’’) and its handler is currently 

trained at the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air 

Force Base, which is also home to the Military Working 

Dog Teams National Monument; 


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SRES 160 ATS 

Whereas war dogs have provided service to each branch of 

the United States Armed Forces and in each conflict involving the United States since and including the Revolutionary War; 

Whereas war dogs are credited with saving countless lives, 

while alerting servicemembers to danger on patrol, detecting improvised explosive devices, identifying weapons 

caches, performing search and rescue, and providing 

other specialized mission functions; 

Whereas in conflicts before and including the Vietnam conflict, some war dogs were left behind in conflict areas, 

but war dogs are no longer considered merely equipment 

and are now required to be retired in the United States; 

Whereas, in recognition of the unique bond between a war 

dog and its handler team, handlers are given preference 

in adopting their war dog teammate after the war dog’s 

retirement; 

Whereas the service of war dogs has been recognized by senior military leaders, who have stated that the capability 

of war dogs in combat cannot be replicated by humans 

or machines and by any measure of performance, war 

dogs outperform any other asset in the inventory of the 

United States Armed Forces; and 

Whereas numerous war dogs have given their lives in service 

to the United States Armed Forces, both in active conflict and in retirement, while providing companionship 

and comfort to veterans and wounded warriors: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That on the occasion of the 75th anniver2 sary of the establishment of the United States Army mili3 tary working dog program, the Senate— 


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SRES 160 ATS 

1 (1) recognizes the service that military working 

2 dogs and contract working dogs (referred to in this 

3 resolution as ‘‘war dogs’’) have provided to the 

4 United States Armed Forces; 

5 (2) acknowledges that not all war dogs were 

6 given due recognition by being allowed to honorably 

7 retire from their service in the United States; 

8 (3) assures the members of the United States 

9 Armed Forces that war dogs will continue to be 

10 treated with the deference commensurate with their 

11 service and rank; and 

12 (4) honors the sacrifices made by war dogs in 

13 combat and the services war dogs provide in retire14 ment to members of the United States Armed 

15 Forces. 

Æ 


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