A bipartisan bill offered on May 1 by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) would establish and authorize a $1 million grant funding program through 2029 to increase access to medical care for retired federal working dogs.
“Our working K9s have played an irreplaceable role in defending our nation — from detecting threats to saving lives,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus. “I believe we have a moral and national obligation to care for these animals in retirement, just as they cared for us in service.
“This bipartisan legislation ensures that responsibility is met with real federal support, easing the burden on handlers and empowering the nonprofits doing this vital work,” the congressman said.
The Honoring Our K9 Heroes Act, H.R. 3144, which Rep. Fitzpatrick sponsored alongside original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), would be administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — the largest federal employer of working dogs — and would support nonprofit organizations that provide veterinary care to retired federal and military K9s.
“Every day, we force federal working and military dogs to make sacrifices for our country that result in long-lasting harm to their quality of life and exorbitant veterinary fees for their handlers,” Rep. Quigley said. “The federal government has a responsibility to support their care long after they are retired from service.”
H.R. 3144 is supported by K9 Hurricane’s Heroes; The Animal Medical Center of New York; Nick White, a U.S. Marine veteran, former U.S. Secret Service agent, and celebrity dog trainer; former USSS ERT Canine Supervisor Special Agent Jonathan Stewart; and Dr. Matthew Brunke, a fellow at the International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy.