Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-83
§2653 Evacuation of Family Pets and Contract Working Dogs During Noncombatant Evacuations of Foreign Countries
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part IV— SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROPERTY › Chapter 157— TRANSPORTATION › § 2653
Summary
The Secretary of Defense can make agreements with nonprofit groups to help evacuate U.S. citizens' family pets and contract working dogs when the military evacuates civilians from a foreign country. Limits: the Defense Department won't pay for veterinary care; this help cannot reduce the number of people who would be evacuated; and evacuation crews or vehicle operators can refuse a pet or dog if it would be unsafe 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 18, 2026
Release point: 119-83