This Rule Prevents Troops From Caring From Stray Animals

Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/general-order-1a/

Many U.S. troops get the opportunity to meet animals during their service. Stray dogs are a common sight around large cities, especially those around the world where the men and women of the U.S. military are often stationed.

According to SPCA International, soldiers may find stray puppies or kittens near their base. Without anyone else to help, the animal may already be weak, dehydrated or malnourished.

general order 1a 5 - This Rule Prevents Troops From Caring From Stray Animals — General Order 1-A prevents service members from caring for animals.

It’s possible that small gestures of care may go unseen by a commanding officer for a short while. But U.S. troops are not allowed to care for these animals, no matter the need. Such action would violate Military General Order 1-A.

Military General Order 1-A prohibits soldiers from helping or bonding with local animals. Every time they feed, pet, or adopt an animal they are breaking the rules. As Mother Jones reports, when these rules are enforced, the animals are killed or forced back out on the streets to fend for themselves.

general order 1a 6 - This Rule Prevents Troops From Caring From Stray Animals — Research shows that bonding with an animal can have positive mental benefits for service members.

The military has been marketing this policy as a method of reducing rabies, warning service members, “Do not keep pets or mascots while deployed.”

The truth is, these furry friends are a great assistance to our heroes, helping them deal with life outside the U.S. in more ways than one. According to American Humane, bonding with an animal can help reduce stress and anxiety, which is why service dogs are used to help veterans mitigate the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that all-too-often arise when they return home from the battlefield.

general order 1a 1 - This Rule Prevents Troops From Caring From Stray Animals — After service, dogs are used to help veterans cope with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury.

“I didn’t step foot on a FOB that didn’t have at least one dog. Or a resident feral cat. Or pet monkey purchased off base. Or captured python,” Capt. Michael Cummings said of his deployment to Camp Joyce in Afghanistan. “I’ve seen sergeants major and lieutenant colonels risk their careers over their favorite dogs.”

Cummings’ unit adopted three dogs near the end of their tour. The alpha dog was named, “Mama.”

“She looked like a wolf, with gray fur and menacing eyes,” Cummings said. “Mama single-handedly kept our FOB clear of other animals, ferociously defending the FOB from any wild Afghan dogs who tried to scavenge our trash pit.”

general order 1a 8 - This Rule Prevents Troops From Caring From Stray Animals — Help us ask the Department of Defense for a change!

SPCA International established “Operation Baghdad Pups” during the Iraq War to reunite animals with the service members who bonded with them. The program has so far helped hundreds of service members reunite with their animal companions back home.

We need to let our troops befriend local animals and keep their military mascots safe from harm.

Click below and tell the Department of Defense to change General Order 1-A and continue this program in other areas where troops are currently stationed.