Hudson Demands Answers for Soldiers, War Dogs
March 28, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2016
March 28, 2016
Hudson Demands Answers for Soldiers, War Dogs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after sending a letter to Chairman Mac Thornberry requesting the House Armed Services Committee to launch a formal inquiry into the mismanaged adoptions of military working dogs (MWDs) from the former Tactical Explosive Detector Dog Program (TEDD):
“This problem came to my attention a year and a half ago when I helped reunite Specialist Brent Grommet and his military working dog Matty who were separated after being wounded overseas. Since then, my office has been contacted by countless veterans who have described the mismanagement of the program. Our veterans selflessly put themselves in harm’s way with their military working dogs, yet too many of them are now separated because of hollow promises from our government. They deserve answers, and it’s for this reason that I am requesting the House Armed Services Committee to launch a formal inquiry into the adoptions of these combat dogs. I’ll continue to fight for our war heroes so they don’t have to jump through hoops to adopt their canine companions.”
To read the letter, click here.
Many TEDD MWDs were trained at K2 Solutions, Inc., a subcontractor located in Southern Pines, N.C. The majority of TEDD MWDs were also physically located at K2 during the adoption process, though the Office of Provost Marshal General (OPMG), and not K2, oversaw the placement of these MWDs. Rep. Hudson received a letter in February from K2 asking him to request a Congressional Inquiry into the program. To read the letter, click here.
An outspoken supporter of our nation's veterans, Rep. Hudson has received national recognition for his work to reunite military working dogs with their handlers. In November of 2014, Rep. Hudson joined Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren on “On the Record” to discuss his role in helping reunite Spc. Brent Grommet and his retired military dog Matty. Click here to see the clip.
After helping to reunite Spc. Brent Grommet and Matty, Rep. Hudson worked with Rep. LoBiondo to amend Robby’s Law and give injured servicemembers priority in adopting their military working dogs. Their amendment to the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act requires that the Department of Defense contact the servicemembers in the order that they handled the MWD to ask if they would like to adopt the MWD.
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