[GrottereewNus]

I saw a brief thread about this but wanted to bring it to attention again. They have passed a revision on August 11,2009 that pit bulls, rottweilers and other breeds with "dominant traits of aggression" will be banned from Marine Corps housing installations. We are allowed to keep our dogs through September of 2012 as long as we have a signed waiver and our dogs pass a nationally recognized temperament test. I agree with the stipulations but will still not be able to keep my dog after 2012. My husband has been in the Marine Corps for 7 years and we have had our pit bull Harley for 5 of them. We have always been responsible with her and know her limits and are always cautious and responsible. As a military family our life is different that most people's...we can't just decide to stay in one place where we can have our dogs, we move every three years and base housing has been our only option to live in a place that we wouldn't have to give up our baby. I just think military families have enough to worry about without putting this on thier plate. My husband can fight for our freedom (been to Iraq 3 times) but cannot have the freedom to have whatever kind of dog he chooses. If you are a military family that has a dog (any kind cause your breed could be next!), find a way to get involved to fight this!!!

[Oriesssedleli419]

Do you have a link to this information?

[dgdhgjjgj]

There has been some discussions about this happening. I have tried to find the thread, without success. Hopefully one of our other members will remember where it is and can link you to it.

[neotheMit]

Thats a disgrace...

Typical though.

[Repwailia]

[JOR4qxYH]

I would like a link also. This is a disgrace! Iraq three times and you might have to give up your family member that has shown no signs of aggression?!

[Acciblyfluila]

.. this is a hard one for me. Very few military families appear to be able to take their pets with them when they move. Quite a few of them abandon their pets from one station to the next. Living very close to one of the main Navy installations in the US.... we see oodles of dogs and cats get adopted and then... 3 - 5 years later, back they go to the shelter.

Rescues out here don't adopt bullies to military families. It is too often, that a family gets stationed in BSL land next and they just leave the dog, drop it off at the shelter, or give it to some friend who is utterly unprepared to deal with the dog's needs. It just rarely is the "forever home" a rescue hopes for.

[Ganoshenko]

.. this is a hard one for me. Very few military families appear to be able to take their pets with them when they move. Quite a few of them abandon their pets from one station to the next. Living very close to one of the main Navy installations in the US.... we see oodles of dogs and cats get adopted and then... 3 - 5 years later, back they go to the shelter.

Rescues out here don't adopt bullies to military families. It is too often, that a family gets stationed in BSL land next and they just leave the dog, drop it off at the shelter, or give it to some friend who is utterly unprepared to deal with the dog's needs. It just rarely is the "forever home" a rescue hopes for.

I have to agree.

When I was doing rescue, I wouldn't adopt to military families either. Their housing is unpredictable, and that's the last thing a dog that is banned in multiple states needs.

Owning bulldogs is a personal choice.. as it joining the military.. they are two choices that just don't blend, in my opinion.

[carfAball]

I have to agree.

When I was doing rescue, I wouldn't adopt to military families either. Their housing is unpredictable, and that's the last thing a dog that is banned in multiple states needs.

Owning bulldogs is a personal choice.. as it joining the military.. they are two choices that just don't blend, in my opinion.

Agreed and me too. It all sucks, but I couldn't place a dog with military families either...

Carla

[saerensenatljn]

easy, tell your husband too quite. thats typical US bullshit now. you sacrifice your life and fight for your country but all theye wanna do is bend ur ass over wit no vaseline!!! sorry but im tired not tryin to offend any government supporters or anything!

[Xxedxevh]

I'm an Iraq veteran and my husband is a 4 time combat veteran.(he's over there now) We have three dogs and one being a dog that is mentioned on that military ban list. We chose off post housing so that we could keep our dogs. Its a choice you have to make and yes I have deployed and so has my husband and we have made arrangements my time and his 4 previous times to have the animals cared for while we are away. It is do able.. Certain states have places that will care for your dog while you are deployed. (PA does cause I kept my dog with them when I deployed.) They are friendly and it was free. For now you guys are grandfathered in. Great..

Stay off post. It sucks, but you chose to have this breed so time to find a place to be happy. Rent a house. The military offers BAH for married couples so you can live off post. My BAH covers our mortgage and we own the home. I won't get involved in this fight only because I've seen what dogs in close proximity can do. On base housing is like living in a sardine can and your little spec of yard is attached to not only your neighbors, but the neighors behind you. Its setting a dog up for failure in my opinion. My husband is MP and he gets a lot of calls for dogs fights and just strays that have wandered. Poor containment. I don't know about where you are.. but you really can't have your dog out on a chain spot where we are.

I agree that some of the military members are irresponsible when it comes to pet ownership, but there a good number out there who arent and will do what is necessary to take care of their loved ones. I like to think of myself included. There is another member here who i believe is military as well and he found ways to keep his dog. It is do able to keep your dogs and still be successful in the military.

---------- Post added at 09:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:18 AM ----------

Here are the links to the threads where we discussed these matters.
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthre...light=Military

http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthre...light=Military

[Repwailia]

I have to agree.

When I was doing rescue, I wouldn't adopt to military families either. Their housing is unpredictable, and that's the last thing a dog that is banned in multiple states needs.

Owning bulldogs is a personal choice.. as it joining the military.. they are two choices that just don't blend, in my opinion.

i agree.. me too! i would never place/adopt out a (bully breeds/bulldog breeds) puppy or dog with military families, either.

[Acciblyfluila]

.. this is a hard one for me. Very few military families appear to be able to take their pets with them when they move. Quite a few of them abandon their pets from one station to the next. Living very close to one of the main Navy installations in the US.... we see oodles of dogs and cats get adopted and then... 3 - 5 years later, back they go to the shelter.

Rescues out here don't adopt bullies to military families. It is too often, that a family gets stationed in BSL land next and they just leave the dog, drop it off at the shelter, or give it to some friend who is utterly unprepared to deal with the dog's needs. It just rarely is the "forever home" a rescue hopes for.

I wrote that late last night and forgot to thread it into the OP's concerns. What I was trying to say was: it certainly sucks to make every Marine housing into BSL land. On the other hand, so many areas are already spiked with BSL, that owning one of these dogs while in the military is already risky business... for the dog, that is. This way, it pretty much turns owning an APBT into 100% trouble.
My next thought was: well, I wished they allowed a grandfathering clause with the housing ... and then I thought: WTH.. that is like BSL in the "real world". Hence my "being on the fence" on this one: military families inherently (whether by being forced or by choice) are unstable homes for pets, and especially BSL affected breeds. ( for a different reason than "aggression"), so really, they probably should think really hard before deciding to own one in the first place. But then we are punishing even the families who are responsible (with the exception of.. what do you do when you are stationed off shore?)

[dgdhgjjgj]

Thanks for those links lmwst18!

[TOOGUEITEME]

i have the upmost respect for every man and woman that has ever served our country but fuck this government this is bulshit,he been to iraq 3 times and came back each time safe and sound to deal with having to get rid of his dog that he didnt just get but that hes had for 5 yrs and he gotta get rid of him in two yrs?????kiss my ass and my dogs ass,sorry for what your going thru feels like owning a american pit bull terrier is the most difficult thing to own nowadays.so sad.fight bsl in the armed forces!!!!!is there a petition we can sign or something im not in the army or anything but this still pisses me off.

[Xxedxevh]

I wrote that late last night and forgot to thread it into the OP's concerns. What I was trying to say was: it certainly sucks to make every Marine housing into BSL land. On the other hand, so many areas are already spiked with BSL, that owning one of these dogs while in the military is already risky business... for the dog, that is. This way, it pretty much turns owning an APBT into 100% trouble.
My next thought was: well, I wished they allowed a grandfathering clause with the housing ... and then I thought: WTH.. that is like BSL in the "real world". Hence my "being on the fence" on this one: military families inherently (whether by being forced or by choice) are unstable homes for pets, and especially BSL affected breeds. ( for a different reason than "aggression"), so really, they probably should think really hard before deciding to own one in the first place. But then we are punishing even the families who are responsible (with the exception of.. what do you do when you are stationed off shore?)

They are always options. A lot of states actually have sanctuaries where you can keep your dog while you deploy. Sometimes it cost money,other times it doesn't. I used Paw Prints Dog Sanctuary when I deployed and thats only because my state of residency is PA. Here is a good article on them. http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/ind...find_home.html

If not I suggest having a back up. A family member who can take care of the dogs. My husband and I have it worked out like this.. if we were both to deploy at the same time, My Great Dane goes to Pa to live with my Father in Law. Brownie goes to PA to live with my MIL and Guinness goes to my parents. They agreed and know how to take care of our dogs. You make arrangements for these things. The people who don't do it right are irresponsible and there are ways to keep your animals. No one is forced to live on post. You have choices to live off post in your own home. If you wish to live on post where you cant have your dog thats your choice..

And there isn't a petition that I know of.. you'd lose either way its a government installation. Rules on post are usually worse than the ones off post. "Dont walk and talk on your cell phone. Don't smoke and walk in Uniform" "Don't wear your baseball cap crooked it must be completely forward" so on and so forth..

Thanks for those links lmwst18!

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