Chris Wright: “I am proud to have introduced the K-9 Hero Act last week. Military and law enforcement K-9s work in tandem with the…”

“I am proud to have introduced the K-9 Hero Act last week. Military and law enforcement K-9s work in tandem with the brave men and women who serve our great Nation. Once these heroes retire from service, the medical treatment they need is often significant enough to create a financial hardship for the individuals who care for them. The K-9 Hero Act creates a grant program to assist nonprofits that take in retired working dogs or provide financial assistance to the owners of retired working dogs. These grants will cover medical costs, such as veterinarian visits, medical procedures, diagnostic tests, and medications, which tend to average around $3,000 per year per dog. As most know, just a few weeks ago, a K-9 played a crucial role in the capture and ultimate killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. This K-9 took off, racing down an underground tunnel before cornering Baghdadi, leaving him nowhere to run. It is stories like these that inspired me to introduce the K-9 Hero Act. These dogs assist our Federal Government in ways that no man or machine could, and it is unacceptable to me for them to live with inadequate medical care--or even be euthanized, in some cases--after sacrificing so much for our country. This bill helps ensure these heroes are well taken care of during retirement and that their need for medical care never prevents them from finding a loving forever home.…”