Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize March 13 as K-9 Veterans Day, an opportunity to commemorate the working dogs that support our men and women in uniform. This year marks the 78th anniversary of the establishment of the K-9 Corps. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Army began training for the K-9 Corps in 1942, originally known as the War Dog Program. In the years that passed, the K-9 Corps has become a vital part of our Armed Forces operations. Though military working dogs initially served as morale boosters for our soldiers, they were eventually trained and incorporated into combat. A dog's sense of smell is 5 to 10 times stronger than a human's, which has made them expert counterparts in detecting explosive devices. More than 1,500 dogs served in the Korean war, 4,000 in Vietnam, and many more in Afghanistan and Iraq. Like their human counterparts, our military K-9s eventually retire. Many dogs and their handlers develop a strong bond during their service together. Sadly, prior to the year 2000, military working dogs were considered ``equipment'' and were either left behind or euthanized at the end of their service. Today, retired military working dogs are put up for adoption, and their personal handlers get first priority to give them a home. To further this effort, the American Humane Society works to unite our four-legged heroes with their handlers by raising funds to ensure their safe transport home.…”