Today, American Humane, the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare practices, is celebrating the passage of the Working Dog Health and Welfare Act.
American Humane advocated for the Working Dog Health and Welfare Act and helped it pass with unanimous support from Congress, underscoring the broad bipartisan support for improving the lives of our treasured working dogs.
“This is a huge victory for the working dogs who perform their critical duties every day to help keep Americans safe,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane. “These hero dogs deserve dignity, respect and the best care we can provide. We are thrilled to see lawmakers from both sides of the aisle come together to support this crucial piece of legislation.”
The Working Dog Health and Welfare Act, which was recently signed by President Biden, will ensure that over 5,500 working dogs across federal agencies receive the care and respect they deserve. It is a significant step toward ensuring that working dogs, who play vital roles in national security and public safety, receive proper medical care, rest, exercise, grooming and housing.
In June 2024, American Humane hosted past Hero Dog Awards winners on Capitol Hill during an event that focused on educating members of Congress and their staff on the importance of these protections for working dogs and advocating for this law’s passage.
The passage of the Working Dog Health and Welfare Act is the result of years of hard work by American Humane and its partners. The law addresses the findings of a 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which revealed that none of the 40 federal agencies with working dogs met all 18 health and welfare metrics required to care for these essential canines. These metrics include medical care, exercise, medication, grooming, rest and housing.
The legislation marks a monumental victory for all animals, and especially for working dogs and the federal agencies that rely on them. It will also enforce the same standards for 400 working dogs employed by federal contractors.