The United State Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently reviewed the condition of working dogs in all federally-managed programs. Surprisingly, GAO found that, in general, most government agencies and federal contractors fell short of meeting the needs of their animals.
The Federal Government Needs to Step up for Working Dogs
Internal inspectors’ concerns with how federal working dog programs were being managed led to the review. At the Senate’s behest, GAO created a three-step plan to assess the situation. First, the report took a complete tally of every federal agency and contractor using working dogs. Then GAO determined whether these groups effectively addressed their working dogs’ health and well-being. Finally, the number and condition of dogs being lent out to foreign partners were assessed, as well.
In order to properly assess each agency, GAO also created an 18-point list of issues “important to the health and welfare of working dogs,” according to a federal press release.
What GAO found is that, as of February 2022, the federal government employed about 5,100 working dogs. These dogs worked within 40 federally-managed programs within eight departments, as well as three independent agencies. Additionally, the report found that almost 400 dogs serve the government through 24 federally-contracted partners. Of all the reasons agencies reported using working dogs, the most common were detecting explosives and narcotics.
Failures To Address Abuse
Unfortunately, GAO found that while some agencies met their 18 points, most fell short. For example, GAO found that almost half of federal programs neglected to address animal abuse within their agencies. Similarly, federally-contracted programs had no protocols for tackling abuse or neglect. Additionally, these contractors also had no procedures to deal with animal retirement or euthanasia. Astonishingly, one contractor had no measures to address any of the 18 points.
With these dismal results, GAO issued formal recommendations for various agencies on how to better ensure the well-being of the working dogs under their care. Hopefully, the agencies’ namesake will hold up and the government will take accountability to care for its four-legged employees.
