Working Dogs Stats: Government Work Goes to the Dogs

by Amy Shojai | Nov 3, 2023 | Dog Training & Care | 4 comments

I recently received a press release from USAFacts.org, a nonpartisan not-for-profit organization. They collect data from 90,000 government agencies (federal and some state/county data) on a wide variety of issues, including working dogs.

Government Working Dog Stats

Did you know that as of February 2022, government programs employ approximately 5,600 dogs? They conduct detection work, disease surveillance, wildlife management, and various SAR programs for both living and deceased people.

Most government-employed dogs work for the Department of Homeland Security (2,943), followed by the Department of Defense (1,808), the Department of State (204), and the Department of Agriculture (148).
Twenty-six government programs use federally-managed working dogs to identify explosives, radiological materials, and nuclear weapons.
The GAO identified 18 issues important to the health and welfare of working dogs working. Risks include inadequate housing, limited access to medical care
Dogs that wash out of certain training programs (like TSA training or DOD programs), or retired working canines may be eligible for adoption.

Health & Welfare of Working Dogs

Because of past concerns with government working dog programs, the GAO (Government Accountability Office) compiled a 93-page study that led to oversight for the health and well-being of working canines.

For additional insight, check out the USAFacts article based on these findings covering dogs with jobs.

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Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

4 Comments

Andrea on November 11, 2023 at 7:13 am

It doesn’t look like they include independent contractors, like conservation working dogs. They usually belong to their owners rather than the government. It’s fascinating to watch them at work. Conservation dogs are trained to find a wide range of things like specific animal species and even invasive plants. And like any working dog require a lot of continuous training. Thanks for the stats Amy.
Reply
- Amy Shojai on November 11, 2023 at 7:29 am
  
  I think there’s more info on the links that includes contractor dogs.
  Reply
Frank Steele on November 4, 2023 at 7:49 am

This is a fascinating article. I didn’t know any of the real facts about working dogs. Now I do. Thank you.
Reply
- Amy Shojai on November 4, 2023 at 7:59 am
  
  It’s fascinating to me, too.
  Reply

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