Every year police service dogs and horses die due to extreme heat exhaustion. The Animal Welfare Act in the United States does not include regulations for working animals. These animals put their lives on the line everyday for us; there needs to be strict rules and regulations in place with penalties to ensure that these animals are treated fairly. 

The USDA needs to include laws that keep service animals safe and protected. We can prevent so many of these senseless deaths with regulations that keep these amazing dogs, horses and other service animals safe. Heat-exhaustion is a cruel way to die and can easily be prevented if handlers are made aware of the rules and regulations that should be in place.

The future laws should include:

1. How much time the animal can be working in extreme conditions (including high/low temperatures or severe weather)
2. How much time the animal is working in a day/week
3. Scheduled breaks for the animal(s)
4. Holding the handlers responsible for any wrong-doings or harm that the animal endures
5.  Ensuring that the animal is not in any distress or discomfort while working
6. Training for all handlers so they are educated and up-to-date on laws and regulations.

I am proposing that the USDA revise the Animal Welfare Act and include working service animals to ensure that their welfare is of the utmost importance. Service dog handlers need to be educated and trained as well, so that these accidents will become preventable. We can prevent so many deaths and hold handlers accountable for their actions.