The Secretary of the military department concerned shall make a military animal of such military department available for adoption by a person or entity referred to in subsection (c), unless the animal has been determined to be unsuitable for adoption under subsection (b), under circumstances as follows:

(1) At the end of the animal’s useful life.

(2) Before the end of the animal’s useful life, if such Secretary, in such Secretary’s discretion, determines that unusual or extraordinary circumstances, including circumstances under which the handler of a military working dog is killed in action, dies of wounds received in action, or is medically retired as a result of injuries received in action, justify making the animal available for adoption before that time.

(3) When the animal is otherwise excess to the needs of such military department.

The decision whether a particular military animal is suitable or unsuitable for adoption under this section shall be made by the commander of the last unit to which the animal is assigned before being declared excess. The unit commander shall consider the recommendations of the unit’s veterinarian in making the decision regarding the adoptability of the animal.

A military animal shall be made available for adoption under this section, in order of recommended priority—

A military animal shall be made available for adoption under this section, in order of recommended priority—

(A) by former handlers of the animal;

(B) by other persons capable of humanely caring for the animal; and

(C) by law enforcement agencies.

(2) If the Secretary of the military department concerned determines that an adoption is justified under subsection (a)(2) under circumstances under which the handler of a military working dog is wounded in action, the dog shall be made available for adoption only by the handler. If the Secretary of the military department concerned determines that such an adoption is justified under circumstances under which the handler of a military working dog is killed in action or dies of wounds received in action, the military working dog shall be made available for adoption only by a parent, child, spouse, or sibling of the deceased handler.

The transfer of a military animal under this section may be without charge to the recipient.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States shall not be subject to any suit, claim, demand or action, liability, judgment, cost, or other fee arising out of any claim for personal injury or property damage (including death, illness, or loss of or damage to property or other economic loss) that results from, or is in any manner predicated upon, the act or omission of a former military animal transferred under this section, including any training provided to the animal while a military animal.

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States shall not be subject to any suit, claim, demand or action, liability, judgment, cost, or other fee arising out of any claim for personal injury or property damage (including death, illness, or loss of or damage to property or other economic loss) that results from, or is in any manner predicated upon, the act or omission of a former military animal transferred under this section, including any training provided to the animal while a military animal.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States shall not be liable for any veterinary expense associated with a military animal transferred under this section for a condition of the military animal before transfer under this section, whether or not such condition is known at the time of transfer under this section.

If the Secretary of the military department concerned determines that a military working dog should be retired the Secretary shall transfer the dog—

If the Secretary of the military department concerned determines that a military working dog should be retired the Secretary shall transfer the dog—

(A) to the 341st Training Squadron; or

(B) to another location within the United States for adoption under this section.

Paragraph (1) shall not apply if at the time of retirement—

(A) the dog is located outside the United States and a United States citizen or service member living abroad adopts the dog; or

(B) the dog is located within the United States and suitable adoption is available where the dog is located.

In the case of a military working dog located outside the continental United States at the time of retirement that is suitable for adoption at that time, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall undertake transportation of the dog to the continental United States (including transportation by contract at United States expense) for adoption under this section unless—

(A) In the case of a military working dog located outside the continental United States at the time of retirement that is suitable for adoption at that time, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall undertake transportation of the dog to the continental United States (including transportation by contract at United States expense) for adoption under this section unless— (i) the dog is adopted as described in paragraph (2)(A); or (ii) transportation of the dog to the continental United States would not be in the best interests of the dog for medical reasons.

(B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to alter the preference in adoption of retired military working dogs for former handlers as set forth in subsection (g).

In providing for the adoption under this section of a retired military working dog described in paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a), the Secretary of the military department concerned shall accord a preference to the former handler of the dog unless the Secretary determines that adoption of the dog by the former handler would not be in the best interests of the dog.

(1) In providing for the adoption under this section of a retired military working dog described in paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a), the Secretary of the military department concerned shall accord a preference to the former handler of the dog unless the Secretary determines that adoption of the dog by the former handler would not be in the best interests of the dog.

(2) In the case of a dog covered by paragraph (1) with more than one former handler seeking adoption of the dog at the time of adoption, the Secretary shall provide for the adoption of the dog by such former handler whose adoption of the dog will best serve the interests of the dog and such former handlers. The Secretary shall make any determination required by this paragraph with respect to a dog following consultation with the kennel master of the unit at which the dog was last located before adoption under this section.

(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as altering, revising, or overriding any policy of a military department for the adoption of military working dogs by law enforcement agencies before the end of the dogs’ useful lives.

In this section, the term “military animal” means the following:

(1) A military working dog, which may include a contract working dog (as such term is defined in section 2410r) that has been transferred to the 341st Training Squadron.

(2) A horse owned by the Department of Defense.

(Added Pub. L. 106–446, § 1(a), Nov. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 1932, § 2582; renumbered § 2583, Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(a)(25), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1224; amended Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 599, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3284; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title III, § 352(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2160; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, § 1063(a)(13), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 322; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title III, § 351, title X, § 1061(20), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1375, 1584; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title III, § 371(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title X, § 1091(b)(2), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 876; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title III, § 342, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 793; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title III, § 342(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2082; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title III, § 352, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1731.)