Designates month of March as "Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month."

AJR134

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 134

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates month of March as �Military and Law
Enforcement Working Dogs Month.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating the month of March
as �Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month.�

Whereas,

Military and law enforcement working dogs play an important role in protecting
our nation from both foreign and domestic threats; and

Whereas,

Military working dogs were initially selected from seven breeds: German
Shepherds, Belgian Sheepdogs, Doberman Pinschers, Collies, Siberian Huskies,
Alaskan Malamutes, and Eskimo Dogs and underwent basic training for two to
three months before moving into specialized programs to train for work as either
sentry dogs, patrol dogs, messenger dogs, or mine-detection dogs; and

Whereas,

Nearly 16,000 dogs have served in the armed forces since World War II and have
played a critical role in saving lives and preventing battlefield injuries to
American service members; and

Whereas,

Dogs offer significant advantages to humans as they possess superior vision, a
powerful sense of smell, and can subdue or intimidate the enemy with the use of
non-lethal force; and

Whereas,

Dogs also exhibit a number of personality traits that make them particularly
suitable for military service such as intelligence, loyalty, dependability, and
adaptability; and

Whereas,

Law enforcement, recognizing the advantages dogs could provide in conducting
their own operations, enlisted the help of working dogs beginning in the 1970s;
and

Whereas,

In their law enforcement role, working dogs perform similar tasks to their
military counterparts by assisting in the apprehension of suspects; detection
of drugs, explosives, or other evidence in a criminal investigation; and
performance of search and rescue operations during bombings, natural disasters,
or missing persons cases; and

Whereas,

The task of becoming the handler for a working dog requires substantial
training which focuses on obedience, aggression control, tracking, searching,
detection of dangerous materials, and proper care of a dog�s overall
well-being; and

Whereas,

Working dogs and their handlers are hardworking and courageous individuals who
willingly place their own lives at risk in order to ensure the safety and
security of our citizens each and every day; and

Whereas,

March 13th is �National K9 Veterans Day� which commemorates the service and
sacrifice of all working dogs because on March 13, 1942, the United States Army
began its War Dog Program, or the �K9 Corps,� to formally train dogs for
military use; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The month of March is
designated as �Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month� in the State of
New Jersey to honor the service and sacrifice of military and law enforcement
working dogs and their handlers.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public
officials and citizens of this State to observe �Military and Law Enforcement
Working Dogs Month� with appropriate activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution designates the
month of March as �Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month� to honor
the service and sacrifice of military and law enforcement working dogs and
their handlers.� The resolution also respectfully requests that the Governor
issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this
State to engage in appropriate activities and programs throughout the month of
March.

���� Military and law enforcement
working dogs continue to play an important role in protecting our nation from
both foreign and domestic threats. Although dogs had been used by the military
for quite some time, the month of March marks the first time a formal
dog-training program was established by the United States Army.� March 13th is
known as �National K9 Veterans Day� because on March 13, 1942, the United
States Army announced creation of the War Dog Program or the �K-9 Corps.�� Dogs
from a number of acceptable breeds including German Shepherds, Belgian Sheep
Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Collies, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and
Eskimo Dogs underwent basic obedience training before entering one of four
specialized programs focusing on either sentry work, scouting, messaging, or
mine detection.� Since then, over 16,000 dogs have served in armed conflicts
overseas and have played a critical role saving lives and preventing
battlefield injuries to American service members.

���� The Army�s decision to train
dogs for military purposes was done after organizations like the American
Kennel Club formed �Dogs for Defense,� a civilian organization whose mission
was to train dogs to perform sentry duties along the coastal United States.
�
After becoming aware of this program and
recognizing the strategic advantages dogs could provide, Secretary of War
Robert P. Patterson approved formation of the K-9 Corps.� Dogs possess a number
of character traits, such as intelligence, loyalty, dependability, and
adaptability, which make them particularly suited for military use.� In
addition, dogs have strong vision, a powerful sense of smell, and can subdue
enemy combatants with the use of non-lethal force.

���� After the successful launch of
the K-9 Corps, local law enforcement began using working dogs to help in their
own operations beginning in the 1970s.� These dogs were used to assist in the
apprehension of suspects; detection of drugs, explosives, or other evidence in
a criminal investigation; and performance of search and rescue operations
during bombings, natural disasters, or missing persons cases.

���� Not every dog is suitable for
a role with military or law enforcement.� Those selected to participate in a
training program join an elite group of dogs that have exhibited proper
temperament and decision making abilities.� Today, German Shepherds are
considered the most suitable for training programs because they consistently
display the proper combination of intelligence, dependability, predictability,
and adaptability.

���� Unleashing the potential of a
working dog to carry out military and law enforcement objectives would not be
possible without their handlers.� Similar to the animals they work with,
handlers go through a rigorous training program integrating classroom instruction,
first aid, and real world simulations.� This curriculum leaves them able to
understand how a canine learns new behaviors, how to care for a dog, and how to
operate with a dog in different environments.

���� The State of New Jersey is
proud to recognize the contributions of this extraordinary group of military
and law enforcement personnel by dedicating a month in their honor.