Military bases are banning certain breeds... - Page 2

I have to strongly disagree..... yes some military members do abandoned their dogs but you shouldn't judge the whole base as a whole just from a few people. We have a club and several military personal attend and have been for years.  Several people who have been to Korea, Guam, Germany, england and back to the states and still have there beloved pets....  This is the same case in the real world their are thousands of people who dump there animals off on the side of the road and abandoned them.  I just don't think its right to judge the people who defend your freedom when the same thing happens everyday in the civilian world.  I don't think that gsds will ever be banned on base because they are the dogs that started the backbone of military police work.  My sister is in the military and the housing is amazing. I don't know where all these accusations are coming from. Almost every house has a fenced in back yard. The only houses that don't are the older ones and even still all they would have to do is put in for a fence..... most do...  I know several people who are contacted through the military to provide dogs, does this make them bad people? No....   If you look at the percentage rates from military who abandoned there dogs verses people who are not in the service. The ratio is so much higher in our world then in theirs.  You hear more cases of people neglecting animals then you do military....  There are strict consequence's to those who do such a thing in military life but for us all they get is a slap on the hand..... jail time if you find the right people to prosecute them.....   Our military is why we still have freedoms today..... No reason to accuse them over  dog abandonment when their are thousands of dogs that get run over and neglected every day by people not in the military..... I would sell a puppy to a military member any day because the chances of that dog getting neglected are very slim unlike the chances of someone just buying a puppy as a pet ,fighting or worse..... or to have a few months then they decide the dog is to much money so they drop it off on the side of the road......   Very controversial subject

So bottom line is that the military experiences the same kinds of irresponsible behavior as does civilian society when it comes to dogs.

As an Active Duty Servicemember, I can say that I totally agree with Hodie's statement. One can't forget the people in our Armed Forces are the same as the people you'll encounter in the civilian sector, with all the diversity, strengths, and failings thereof.



However I do think that VomMarischal's views on not selling a dog to a Service Member rub me a bit the wrong way. Just because some military members are irresponsible does not mean we all are. That wld be like saying any other group -- people who rent a place, rather than own, or live in apartments, or are under the age of 25 -- cannot be trusted to be responsible pet owners.

You have to look at the individual rather than the demographic. Relocating isn't that constant, and many of us just bring our pets with (including overseas and back in many cases). The quality of military housing varies a great deal from base to base, and every base I've been to that didn't have fenced yards allows you to put up your own fencing if you want it. There are many groups that provide long-term care and kennelling for military members' pets in circumstances where we might have to quickly relocate without warning.

That's like saying parents in a dual-military family shouldn't have kids because of relocation and deployments, and whatnot. I've heard that arguement from civilians, that military members should not be allowed kids if both parents are active duty. I think it's a crock of bull. I know many dual-military families that have kids and pets; and they are at least as responsible as any other demographic group out there.

I've got to admit, from my stance, I find the idea that someone wouldn't want me to have a dog from them just because I'm in the military to be rather insulting, and honestly a bit hurtful as well. I do what I do because I believe in protecting the rights of my fellow Americans, but that makes me somehow less responsible when it comes to owning a pet than JohnDoe Civilian?

I may soon be living the military life and I would never ever ever dump my dog anywhere! nor would I ever do anything wrong by him. He will be by my side until one of us is no longer living. I agree that its a life that may require alot of moving around but I dont think thats means a responsible pet owner shouldnt be allowed a dog. I do think that they should make sure that thier spouse or family is capable of caring for the pet when they have to be away. It should be a family dog, not just the soildiers dog, since he will me spending months away from home. Maybe yall could reconsider some people and thier situations. A single soildier....maybe not. a soldier whos spouse doesnt like dogs...maybe not. But a good and responsible family situation...cmon! This could be the best home in the world for the dog...

I would definetley look into it harder and make sure they could provide the proper care, but wouldnt completly rule them out....

I agree with Mr/Ms Carrol. And I am sure no one here means any disrespect to people who are military personnel and, of course, all of us value your contributions to our society. It is difficult to NOT have a knee-jerk reaction and based on experience, and simply lump people, of any faith, creed, occupation etc., even dog owners, into one category, be it negative or positive.

The fact is, all too many PEOPLE are irresponsible when it comes to dogs. I am sure that where adequate and properly collected and unbiased statistics were available, we would see that in some cases, especially where base commanders have strong leadership on dog ownership issues, that indeed there might be fewer problems with military folks and their dogs than in the general population. In my area, I suspect that the average Joe Citizen just dumps the dog at the shelter or dumps them out in the east end of the county, but because my rescue is known to the military, I may get an inordinate number of folks who are in the military contacting me. So it is easy for me to develop a biased view and I must guard against that. Of course, just as Mr/Ms. Carroll posts, there are many military who are absolutely responsible about their dogs. I tend to start at the foundation of the problem and though many here will disagree, I believe it does start with breeders. Breeders who are seriously selective about to whom they will sell a dog are, really, few and far between. And humans being who they are, don't look carefully at the issue and just jump all too often and get a dog when it may well be the absolute wrong thing to do. People who rent, for example, who already have two dogs, will have a tough time finding rental property should they have to move. All too often these same people will go get more dogs, or cats, and then, when reality happens and they find themselves needing to move, they cannot find a place because of the animals. So, regardless of who the person is, I do look very carefully at not only the present situation of a potential adopter/buyer but also the likelihood of whether they will be able to care for the animal/s if their circumstances change only a little bit. For all too many of us, myself included, when there are larger and broader changes in the circumstances of our lives, it does indeed affect the animals we love so much.

Some of you people AMAZE me! We the "Military" are good enough to fight for your freedoms and to die for your beliefs....yet you sterotype all military as ones you would not sell dogs too....amazing! I for one take great offense to your bullshit! I served over 22 years and my GSD went Everywhere with me and my family....for 14 years...till he passed. He spent more time overseas them most any of you people have. He flew to Europe two tours! He spent time in Colorado in Texas and in Pa and even  Florida. He was a member of my family and if they went, he went. I doubt most any of you talking this crap have served your Country....no you sit at home and bitch about other's. A the facts are not even being stated here! No bases Ban dogs! Some Posts or Bases ban some dogs in "Housing Areas" Just like you Civilians do out here in Public life.....Get a Life....get real....state Facts! and grow up! I wouldn't buy a dog/GSD from any of you that think that way...you are a Joke!

Pissed off and Proud of it!

I agree however I never said that bases ban dogs...only certain breeds and thier mixes....

http://www.dpca.org/Legisltv/documents/SignedPetPolicyforPrivatizedHousing_Jan09.pdf

well put j.c  carroll...... 

OK, this is really pissing me off.

First, to answer the original question, yes bases are starting to ban breeds. It is not so much the bases as it is the privatized housing. The company who runs the base housing where I live require all GSD's to have a temperment test. I did that and my boy passed with flying colors.

Now, for the rest.....I have served in the Army for the past 11 1/2 years. I purchased my GSD in Feb 2001 while I was 4 or 5 months pregnant. I had my child and constantly had my GSD around him. I left my ex-husband when my child was 5 weeks old. I took my GSD with me. I got my divorce finalized, right after the custody of my child in the paperwork was the custody of my dog. Full custody of both. I deployed and had to leave my home for 18 months. My son went to my mom, my dog went to an awesome kennel where I payed extra money every month for him to have 1 on 1 playtimes and training sessions just about daily. My dog's vet lived right across the street from the kennel.

My GSD has lived on 2 different military bases with me, in military housing. We move again in 5 months. He is coming with me again.

I have had my boy for almost 9 years. He has always been well taken care of and loved. I get comments all the time from CIVILIANS about how I treat my dog better than they even treat their children. My dog is on great food, getting great suppliments, receiving the best veterinary care (he has several health issues-SIBO, IBD, etc). I would never dump him off just because I am moving. When we move, we find a place well in advance that will rent to us so we have a home to move to.

Do not be biased about someone being in the military. You may lose a potential amazing owner for a well loved dog.

Oh, and by the way, I am getting my next GSD from an awesome breeder next summer. My entire family is looking forward to the new addition to our family.