New policy changes allowed dog breeds

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  In response to a recent dog attack, the 28th Bomb Wing enacted supplements to its military housing pet policies which ban three different dog breeds from residing on Ellsworth and its off-base privatized housing areas: the Pit Bull, Rottweiler and Doberman pinscher.

"In June 2008, at the Dakota Ridge housing district, two Pit Bulls owned by an Air Force member attacked another servicemember's dependent," said Harold Jensen, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Housing assistance chief. "The Rapid City Police Department and an employee of the Humane Society of the Black Hills responded and trapped the vicious dogs."

Soon afterward, Ellsworth drafted plans to amend the current pet policies for the base.

We made changes to the Ellsworth Air Force Base Military Family Housing Brochure and the Air Force Joint Instruction 48-131, EAFB Supplement 1, Mr. Jensen said. Changes will be reflected in the Veterinary Health Services A2.3.15 section; the changes became effective as of July 26 and were approved by the 28 BW and 28th Mission Support Group commanders.

Mr. Jensen said documented cases of fatal human attacks throughout the United States prompted the banning of these specific dog breeds.

He noted, however, mixed breeds will be dealt with in the same manner as their purebred counterparts.

The on-base veterinarian will be the determining official of mixed breeds, he said. They will be required to report these animals for removal from military family housing. Anyone who does not comply with this will face the same repercussions as owners of the purebred breeds.

Those who owned the breeds before change implementation will be treated as an exception.

"Current owners of these types of dogs, who lived in housing prior to July 26, will be grandfathered from this change," Mr. Jensen said. "However we have no estimate of the number of people who may own an animal which meets these guidelines in family housing."

Banning the three dog breeds is not the only change addressed in the supplement.

"Those in housing who still own these breeds will be required to muzzle the animal if it is outside of their housing unit or fenced yard [i.e. sidewalk, streets, parks etc.]," he said.

Owners who choose not to comply with the new policy changes may be subjected to loss of on-base housing and may have to move at their own expense. In addition, extra penalties may be inflicted upon owners who are found to have not registered their pets in the first place.

"Banning these dog breeds is not meant as a punishment to their owners," said Col. Scott Vander Hamm, 28 BW commander. "Unfortunately, in the interest of safety, it is the best means of protecting those in our community who live in military housing from attacks of this nature. Safety of our Airmen and families is extremely important to the Ellsworth community, and this action helps reinforce it."