Military Working Dog Adoption

By Katie Appleby

Before going through military working dog adoption, you have to read the requirements carefully and choose the dog that you want to adopt. Talk to your family about your plan and make sure that they understand that you will not be getting a puppy, that you will be getting a retired military working dog. The process may take time but be patience. People attending to these issues are very busy but they generally get back to you in time.

There are some military dogs that were adopted by their former handlers and some do not pass the adoption suitability test. (This is a test that is use to see if the dogs are suitable for adoption by a civilian.) The rest of the dogs are put up for adoption. Be diligent in finding your dog, sometimes the process is long - but the well-trained dog you receive will be worth it. It may take months and a lot of phone calls before you can find the perfect dog but do not get discouraged. Be patient because for some of these dogs, it may be their last chance to find a home.

When calling the office about looking for a military dog to adopt, always be straightforward. They are busy; they do not sit around the desk all day waiting for calls. They train; they take care of the dogs and do a lot more. So keep it short and simple. Ask if they have a military dog that has been "declared excess", meaning retired. If the answer is no, leave your name and number and ask them if they can call if something changes.

If the answer is yes, then ask them about the adoption suitability test. Ask if anyone is in line to adopt the dog. The handlers always get first priority on these adoptions, which makes sense because they were the ones who took care of these dogs. Next are usually local law enforcement with civilians the last in line.

Ask them questions about the military dog that you want to adopt. They may be busy, but finding a home for their dogs is also very important to them. So they will generally be happy to answer all your questions. Keep an open mind about the breed of the dog, remember that dogs can come in many shapes and sizes. All are adorable creatures that we can call our best friend. When you are done with your application and completed your requirements - just wait for your dog to come home.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about military working dog adoption, please visit Pet Adoption Now for current articles and discussions.