Latest News from MCB Camp Lejeune

New Base Order bans vicious breeds from base

Cpl. Billy Hall, Marine Corps Base

Past incidents involving domestic animal attacks aboard Camp Lejeune have prompted recentrevisions to the existing base order regulating the possession and control of pets.From this point forward, full or mixed breeds of pit bulls, rottweilers, wolf breeds or any caninebreeds with dominant traits of aggression, as determined by the base veterinarian, areprohibited aboard base. Visitors are also banned from bringing these unauthorized dogs ontobase and all military sponsors will be held responsible for enforcing this regulation.Base Order 10570.1Dwill be signed today by the base commanding officer to preventunnecessary injuries resulting from potentially dangerous animals on base.“The reason for this change is clear,” said base commanding officer Col. Richard P. FlatauJr. “To the extent possible, we want to prevent unnecessary injuries resulting from dangerous or potentially dangerous animals. These specific breeds present an unreasonable risk to thehealth and safety of our residents and are therefore prohibited.”Current base residents who already own these vicious breeds will be allowed to maintain themunder a grandfather provision as long as they meet certain confinement guidelines. Accordingto the new order, these breeds must be kept in a USDA-approved pen instead of a fenced yard.Many of the rules for pet owners covered in the previous order have been carried over to thenew one. Similar to the previous order, on-base residents are limited to two domestic animals,which can be any combination of dogs or cats.Residents are still required to register their dog or cat at the Veterinary Treatment Facility within15 days of either occupying housing or otherwise being kept aboard the base. They must alsoregister their pets with Atlantic Marine Corps Communities housing office. The new order statesresidents must renew those registrations annually with the VTF and the base housing manager in order to ensure the animals are up to date on all required inoculations and still not consideredpotentially dangerous. Consistent with the previous order, all cats and dogs must be micro-chipped and wear a collar with the current address of the owner and a rabies inoculation tagattached.“Vicious breeds or not,” said Flatau, “we still need to regularly ensure standard veterinaryrequirements are being enforced for all pets residing on base. The health and safety of allresidents is paramount.”Additionally, the order addresses domestic animal requirements and standards all pet owners onbase should know.“Besides the obvious changes with respect to vicious breeds, the order also acts as a guide for residents to follow. There may be some questions as to what steps to take when bringing a peton base. This order will answer those questions,” said Flatau.For its part, AMCC has launched a comprehensive information campaign outlining the newregulations, according to Kathleen Murney, AMCC's general manager.

Col. Richard P. Flatau Jr., Base CO

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