Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§2653 Evacuation of family pets and contract working dogs during noncombatant evacuations of foreign countries

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART IV— - SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROPERTY › Chapter CHAPTER 157— - TRANSPORTATION › § 2653

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary of Defense to make deals with nonprofit groups so those groups can help evacuate animals when the Department of Defense pulls noncombatants out of another country. It covers family pets of U.S. citizens being evacuated and contract working dogs that are in that country. There are limits. The Defense Department does not have to pay for veterinary care because of the evacuation. The Secretary cannot use this authority if it would reduce the number of people who would be evacuated. The operator of an evacuation vehicle may refuse a pet or working dog if taking it would create a safety risk for others.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §2653

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to the limitations under subsection (b), in the event of a situation during which the Department of Defense evacuates noncombatants from a foreign country, the Secretary of Defense may enter into agreements with appropriate nonprofit entities under which such entities provide for the evacuation of—

(1)the family pets of citizens of the United States who are evacuated by the Department; and

(2)contract working dogs located in such country.

(b)The limitations under this subsection are as follows:

(1)The Department of Defense is not responsible for providing veterinary care for a family pet or contract working dog by reason of the evacuation of the pet or dog pursuant to subsection (a).

(2)The Secretary may not exercise the authority under subsection (a) if the exercise of such authority would result in a reduction in the number of individuals who would otherwise be evacuated.

(3)The operator of a vehicle used for evacuation may refuse to evacuate a family pet or contract working dog if the operator determines that the evacuation would create a safety risk to other passengers or personnel.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 2653

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73