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

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s2653"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 2653 - Evacuation of family pets and contract working dogs during noncombatant evacuations of foreign countries"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "2653"
section_name: "Evacuation of family pets and contract working dogs during noncombatant evacuations of foreign countries"
chapter_number: 157
chapter_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "IV"
part_name: "SERVICE, SUPPLY, AND PROPERTY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title III, § 372, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 836.)"
---


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

**(a)** **Authority to Evacuate.—** 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)** **Limitations.—** 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.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title III, § 372, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 836.)