Comments on: Homeland Security Boondoggle

A Congressional Investigation Calls Into Question How Federal Money Is Being Spent

[elysiacw]

It is reasonable to spend homeland security money to provide safety for the security dogs. These dogs are expensive to train and buy, and most likely they cost a lot more then the 70 million dollars. Many security dogs do vital tasks such as sniffing out weapons, bombs, drugs and guns, and taking down suspects. I was shocked that after covering a story about making sure that our human hero%u2019s should be treated with respect they would dismiss these other heros!

It%u2019s honorable to protect those who protect us wether they be humans or humans best friends, I am dismayed that CBS evening news would not agree with me on this!

[tink571]

One of the items on your list of boondoggles was bulletproof vests for police and fire department dogs. I could not believe that this was on the list. What we ask these dogs to do is nothing less the heroic and is an indispensable part of these departments. They will search for bombs, apprehend criminals and alert when drugs are present. They guard our boarders, airports, city streets and small towns, putting their lives on the line without hesitation. They do not ask for raises or better retirement benefits. They do their job selflessly with the reward being a game of catch. If CBS and the represent ivies think that protecting these dogs is a boondoggle, they need to look around Washington DC, the capital of boondoggles. Have an independent company investigate how taxpayer%u2019s money is spend by our Country%u2019s elected & appointed officials in D.C., then you will see what true boondoggling is all about. Our government should fund vests for all dogs that serve with our police and fire department as well as the ones that service with our Military.

[sunny-r]

It is a sad day when Congressmen and CBS news are outraged at the thought of $7,348 being requested for bullet proof vests for working police and fire department dogs.
Surprisingly, Ms. Couric lumped the protective dog vests together with clown shows and lawn mower races and asked, "can anything be done to stop this?" Perhaps she might consider getting some first hand knowledge of police canine units before insinuating that police dogs don't deserve funding for protection in the line of duty.
.... and what can she do to stop this? - She can contact me, I will gladly send that Ohio canine unit the $7,348 that they need.... since it's clear that the CBS News team certainly never would.
sunny-r

[joannigary]

The Government has put aside a certain amount of money for Homeland Security. I certainly believe the dogs that have put their lives on the line to protect, serve and save us are more then worth it. Godspeed to them!

Day after day I am paying for health care, after school programs, additional schools supplies, alternative programs and needs of all the children in the United States. I don't have children and still I don't call this a BOONDOOGLE. It is what we do as Americans. I would certainly not want anyone to put their human child out to fight crime without a bullet proof vest. Shame on CBS News and Ms. Katie Couric

[ncfireman1]

Is it worth $8000.00 dollars to teach children about fire safety. If clowns and puppet shows work GOOD. I guss that Katie thinks is is ok for a child to die from a fire. I am a volunteer fire fighter in rual NC (no tax money) to pay for firefighting equipment. It looks like Katie just wants us to burn up. It is cheeper to teach fire safety than rebuild a home or pay for a furnel of a young child.

[ktrout001]

What the heck are you thinking ? What's wrong with vests for K9 dogs ? OK, OK, let's put aside the obvious that these dogs are highly trained and dedicated officers who would give their lives for their handlers. Let's put aside that these dogs are put into places that human officers can't or shouldn't be. Let's put aside that these dogs save lives everyday by going into harms way based solely on their partner officer's command with no regard for their own safety. Let's put it into something that every taxpayer can understand, These dogs cost alot of money ! Let's protect the investment !!!

There, they may be "only" dogs but they work awfully hard for their dinner every day. That's a whole lot more than I can say for most of congress.

[carbuncle3]

BULLETPROOF VESTS FOR DOGS SAERVING ALONGSIDE FIRE AND POLICE OFFICERS IS MOST CERTAINLY JUSTIFIED!!!

THESE ANIMALS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND NOT PETS...THEY GO WHERE THEIR HUMAN PARTNERS CANNOT AND THIS DISCIPLINED TRAINING PAYS OFF IN THE LONG AND SHORT RUNS....

SHAME...SOMEONE NEEDS TO "RE-RESEARCH" THIS SEGMENT AND APOLOGIZE TO OUR CANINE OFFICERS AND THE DEPARTMENTS FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM ON THEIR ROSTERS...

[bmhillis]

I cannot beleive your shotty one sided reporting on this story! You have really stooped to a new low in journalism with this one. As a police officer, I am furious that you (CBS / Ms. Couric)and those two Senators think that police dogs are not worth a bulletproof vest. The amount of money put into the training of these dogs not to mention the time it takes to bond with the handler and the lives they save should alone warrant one! These dogs ARE police offcers to the men and women who work with them day in day out. They are just as valuble as thier human counterparts. I am sure you will hear from many other officers on this and we demand an apology from your figurehead ON AIR! Her comment at the end of this story just took the cake. [Bulletproof vests for police dogs? What can we do to put a stop to this?] The question is what can we do to put a stop to idiotic questions and comments like that!!! As far as the Senators, what was their names again,Weiner and Flake? Figures!!!!

[Cricketnc52]

This is for Sccrmoom2. I completely agree. WHY IS IT ONLY IN OHIO THAT POLICE DOGS ARE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO PROTECT? I live in NC and would like to see EVERY police dog EVERYWHERE given a bullet proof vest, as well as every other dog in a dangerous profession be given the same protective gear that their human counterparts are given without second thought.

[scott9445]

Katie...you and CBS News really stepped on your tail and put your paw in your mouth on this one. You should be ashamed of yourselves. We're happy for our tax dollars to go towards bulletproof vests for police dogs. They put their lives on the line every day. But there's one glaring difference between them and two-legged law enforcement...they never volunteered for this duty. The least we taxpayers can do is protect them. Have you ever had a dog in your life?
Scott & Shirley Lumsden

[Cricketnc52]

This is about a story Katie Couric did on 3/1/2007 about Homeland Security. I agreed that everything they spend it on is ridiculous EXCEPT ONE. WHAT IS SO RIDICULOUS ABOUT PUTTING BULLET PROOF VESTS ON POLICE DOGS, AND PROTECTIVE VESTS ON FIRE DOGS? Don't they deserve the same protection as their 2-legged partners? These dogs put their lives on the line even more so than their human partners, yet you talked about giving them protection as if they didn't deserve the same consideration as the human officers. SHAME ON YOU, KATIE!!!!!! That one story is enough that I am rethinking my ever watching your show again. And don't hide behind just reporting what was given to you. You could have deleted that part, or at the very least, made a comment defending these brave and loyal dogs. If this is the way you feel about dogs and animals, then I feel very sorry for any pets you may have, now, in the past, or in the future.

[wgowan]

Sorry..money spent on bulletproof vests for police dogs is NOT A Boondoogle!!!

[wgowan]

Sorry..money spent on bulletproof vests for police dogs is NOT A Boondoogle!!!

[sccrmom2]

I think that you were way off in using the example of the bullet-proof vests for police dogs in Ohio.

Why would you not want to protect them when they are trained "To Serve and Protect" just like their human conparts. I would guess that if you asked ANY K9 handler in the US, they would agree.

My question is, why only in Ohio??