# The Sgt. Fieldy Act: Honoring Military Working Dogs

This bill allows military working dogs to be buried in national cemeteries across the country. Right now, these cemeteries are primarily reserved for human service members and veterans, but this law would change that to include dogs that served in the military. When a military working dog dies, their remains could be laid to rest in any open national cemetery run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, just like human soldiers.

Military working dogs are real service members who perform critical jobs for the armed forces. They detect explosives, search for missing people, protect military bases, and work alongside soldiers in combat zones. These dogs face the same dangers as their human counterparts and often form deep bonds with their handlers and units. The bill recognizes this service by giving these animals a dignified final resting place in cemeteries that honor military sacrifice.

The practical effect is straightforward: families of military working dogs and military units would have the option to bury their dogs in national cemeteries if they choose to do so. This provides a meaningful way to honor these animals' contributions and gives handlers and their families a place to remember their service. The law applies to any dog that served as a military working dog at any point in its life, and it's retroactive, meaning it covers dogs that have already died going back about a year before the law takes effect.

Sgt. Fieldy Act

Gonzalez, Vicente

Sgt. Fieldy Act This bill authorizes the interment of a deceased military working dog in any open national cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration.