If Chloe had been labeled a “Chow,” instead of a “terrier,” we’d be in a tight, housingless spot. And if living on post was our only real option, we’d be trying to figure out how to make it work without giving up the hairiest member of our family.
But there’s no way to tell that she’s a Chow mix — or anything for the matter — for certain. We don’t know her mom’s lineage. Who knows who the puppy baby daddy was. The designation of “terrier mix” was based entirely on impressions – that her coat looked long (we’ve since cut it), that her ears sat this way (they don’t always do that), that she looked like she wanted to dig (she never digs) – not on any actual evidence.
National Military Appreciation Month is celebrated every May and is a declaration that encourages U.S. citizens to observe the…
There is equal evidence to being a Chow. That long coat is kinda poofy, too. Her tongue has black spots. Shes kinda Chow like around the eyes.
3. Make your neighbor some muffins. So your possibly part-Doberman dog your vet labeled a “hound mix,” (well played as Dobermans are part of the hound family) is making your neighbors uneasy? Make them some mini muffins, introduce them to your sweet hound-mix girl and count yourself lucky – you now have new friends, you got to eat a muffin, and no one is complaining to housing.
Case in Point: Our Move to an Installation that Shall Remain Unnamed
After an exhausting two-day drive following a last-minute unplanned DITY move (thank you for canceling at the last minute, military movers), my husband and I pulled our car up to the housing office. Our house was ready and all we had to do was go in, sign the paperwork, get the keys, and move ourselves, our stuff, and our overtired, cranky, hyperventilating dog into our new home for the year. With complete dog medical records in hand, we strolled into the office.
Three minutes later…
I climbed back into our car vaguely wondering which of us was hyperventilating more–me or the dog? The housing officer had requested a genetics test for our dog’s breed. What?! This wasn’t in the paperwork! It wasn’t in any of their policies online, and during my many calls to the housing office, not a single person had mentioned anything other than bringing his updated shot records.
The housing officer handed me a number of someone who could help, someone who could “get the job done” in less than a couple of weeks. He explained that it helped the installation maintain their breed restriction policies by having the precise breed of the dog, which they could only procure from a true genetics test.
I’m no geneticist, but from my understanding, a quickie genetics test on a dog won’t tell you whether my dog is a danger to your installation. In our post, Breed Restrictions for On-Base Military Housing, you can read how the Director of the Army’s Veterinarian Service Activity agrees–the blanket breed restrictions exist to weed out dangerous dogs, but they fail to recognize that the problem with “bad” dogs more often lies with the owner and not with the dog. These restrictions simply don’t serve their purpose.
I took a deep breath, marched back into the office, and demanded that the housing officer come outside and meet my dog. Eventually, he obliged. He shirked when he saw my 100-lb mutt’s massive hulk, but upon seeing him meekly obey our commands, he relented. He signed off on our dog’s approval for the base, requiring no further testing or paperwork.
I was elated, but given the willingness of the housing officer to break his pet policy–albeit, a new and undocumented policy–it made me wonder just how many other potentially “illicit” creatures lived on base with us.
On that particular installation, I knew at least four people with animals that fell into the questionable category. These questionable pets ran the gamut of offenses:
At the time, I had no idea that the person running the latter was operating a prohibited business on base. After all, if military spouses could run family child care businesses on base, then why couldn’t they also care for dogs? It seemed logical, though written policies firmly prohibit operating any kind of commercial animal business on base.
If you’re planning to bring a questionable animal on base for your next move, then check out the lists of (generally) prohibited and permitted animals below for some guidelines. But always make sure to check with your specific installation for their exact policies!
According to the current legislation, the policy would have to be implemented within 180 days of the NDAA becoming law and would “include strategies for implementation within all military communities, [and] for the prevention of dog bites that are consistent with the following best practices: Enforcement of comprehensive, non breed-specific regulations relating to dangerous dogs, with emphasis on identification of dangerous dog behavior and chronically irresponsible owners.”
Regional and service-specific policies banning aggressive dog breeds on military bases have been a source of consternation and controversy for years. But a new provision in the Senate version of the next defense policy bill aims to clear up the confusion.
Thats in contrast with current policies, which tend to focus on certain “aggressive” breeds, such as pit bulls.
An amendment in the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act passed by the Senate would require the secretary of defense to establish a single standardized policy for the whole military governing dangerous dogs. The new policy, which would be presented within 90 days of the bills passage, would be breed-neutral.
In 2012, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, moved to end its grandfather policy governing pit bulls, rottweilers and wolf hybrids, requiring base residents to give up these dogs or move off base.
PETS IN THE ARMY: Are they allowed?
The military life offers both opportunities and challenges to families. There is the chance to live in new places around the nation and world, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures. There is also the change that comes with frequent moves and separations from military moms and dads. Some might believe that a dog will bring security and comfort to a spouse and children who are experiencing the many adjustments that come with military life.
Before you go out and get that dog for your loved ones, pause to review the restrictions on dog breeds that are allowed as you consider housing and pet care options.