22/06/2022
The 2019 AKC US Detection Dog Conference was held on August 27, 2019. I was asked to attend with a fellow breeder. It was the first time that I thought I might have a chance to be involved helping our government purchase US bred dogs.
I started to follow the information that I got and visited brokers that import then sell dogs to all branches of our government. I found articles that explained how to make millions selling dogs to the government (Google it: How to Make Millions Selling Dogs to the Government By Jake Bittle 02/10,2020). Then I started to uncover dogs being housed that could not be trained or did not perform after training. The dogs were purchased from European kennels and resold to our local police departments. This is just a small part of the problem we face.
2022 and another US Detection Dog Conference is coming up. This time I got invited by AKC and I am going. No, I do not expect that we will get any help to prepare to sell to the government with my new kennel breeding European Working Line dogs developed by a top trainer/breeder in the world. I will be able to get some great breeding guidelines and medical information and meet some of dog breeding, training, nutrition and health experts in the field.
In March 2022 I contacted Dr.(Col.) Richard Vargus who after an distinguished military career entered federal civilian service as Department of the Army Military Working Dog Program Manager, now retired. After getting caught up-to-date I found his sentiments mirror mine. Politicians and military leaders are Procrasting and dragging their feet on the programs.
The tunnel vision of the DOD continues to procure trainable dogs from Europe and the numbers of “green dogs” continues to dissipate.
We remain reliant on European breeders to most of the time sell dogs to the highest paying client. Cost analysis has been ignored by the DOD. Countries that buy the cream of the crop include: China, Saudi Arabia and Russia, to name a few. They buy green dogs at a cost of $30,000 per dog, while the DOD is relegated by 20 year old budget restrictions of $4,500 per dog.
Currently the shortfall of required trained dogs continues to grow. The USAF the proponent for training dogs for the service, has been unable to meet their trained dog quota for the past 15 years.
Dr. Vargus and I will be starting a movement to reach out to Virginia Lt. Governor Sears and others in the Virginia Commonwealth. We are also reaching out to some local State Representatives and Senators for help.
Our goal is simple, let Virginia be the light that shines on the rest of the nation and set the tone. Virginia bred dogs for service in Virginia.
Dr. Vargus ended saying “Charlie, old soldiers never die….they just get older and crankier” But we share a vision, and know the way forward.
As an old cranky vet I know if we do nothing, we will not be prepared to provide canines to meet the explosive, narcotics, search and rescue needs, at the cost of American lives.
Dr. (Col.) Vargus and I will not Procrastinate