1. References.
a.
United States Government Accountability Office, GAO-23-104489 (Working Dogs: Federal Agencies Need To Better Address Health and Welfare), 19 October 2022
b.
Joint Requirements Oversight Council Memorandum 047-24 (Department of Defense (DoD) Working Dog (WD) Enterprise Update), 2 July 2024
c.
Department of the Air Force (DAF) Instruction 31-126 (DoD Military Working Dog (MWD) Program) (Army Regulation (AR) 700–81), 17 January 2019, incorporating DAF Guidance Memorandum 2025-01, 24 April 2025
d.
AR 40–905 (Veterinary Health Services), 29 August 2006
e.
AR 190–12 (Military Working Dog Program), 23 October 2019
f.
U.S. Army Medical Command Policy Memorandum 23-012 (Animal Facility Inspections), 18 May 2023
2. Purpose.
This policy directs the improvement of Military Working Dog (MWD) wellness, well-being, and quality of life through the implementation of the Canine Holistic Health and Fitness (K9H2F) Program and its supporting Partner and Wellness (PAW) Program.
3. Applicability.
This directive applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve.
4. Policy.
a.
All U.S. Army units responsible for the health and welfare of MWDs will comply with the health and welfare provisions prescribed in reference 1c, hereby established as the Army K9H2F Program.
b.
The PAW Program, hereby established as a subset of the Army K9H2F Program, mandates handlers and their assigned MWDs to move together during a permanent change of duty station.
David R. Fitzgerald
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of the Army
5. Roles and Responsibilities.
a.
The Provost Marshal General will approve all Army K9H2F Program and PAW Program criteria, guidance, and exceptions to policy.
b.
Army command, Army service component command, and direct reporting unit MWD program managers will ensure their subordinate MWD units meet the requirements of the Army K9H2F Program listed in this directive and reference 1c health and welfare requirements, including the purchase of canine enrichment tools within 90 days of the date of this directive.
c.
Commanders of military police MWD detachments will ensure their kennels meet the requirements established in the Army K9H2F Program in accordance with this directive and reference 1c health and welfare requirements, including the purchase of canine enrichment tools within 90 days of the date of this directive.
6.
The Provost Marshal General, in coordination with The Surgeon General, will publish procedural guidance to implement this policy within 90 days of the date of this directive.
7. Proponent.
The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) has oversight responsibility for the Army K9H2F Program.
The Provost Marshal General will incorporate the provisions of this directive into AR 190–12 within 2 years of the date of this directive.
8. Duration.
This directive is rescinded on publication of revised regulation.
DISTRIBUTION:
- Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Commander
- U.S. Army Forces Command
- U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
- U.S. Army Materiel Command
- U.S. Army Futures Command
- U.S. Army Pacific
- U.S. Army Europe and Africa (CONT)
DISTRIBUTION: (CONT)
- U.S. Army Central
- U.S. Army North
- U.S. Army South
- U.S. Army Special Operations Command
- Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
- U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
- U.S. Army Cyber Command
- U.S. Army Medical Command
- U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Army Military District of Washington
- U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
- U.S. Army Human Resources Command
- U.S. Army Corrections Command
- U.S. Army Recruiting Command
- Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy
- Commandant, U.S. Army War College
- Director, U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
- Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency
- Director, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
- Director, U.S. Army Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office
- Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
- Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
CF:
- Principal Cyber Advisor
- Commander, Eighth Army