---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2653"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "2653"
heading: "Evacuation of family pets and contract working dogs during noncombatant evacuations of foreign countries"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2653"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Property"
  - "Chapter 157 — Transportation"
---

# §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)](#b), in the event of a situation during which the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense evacuates noncombatants from a foreign country, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) who are evacuated by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6); and
  - (2) contract working dogs located in such country.
- (b) **Limitations.—** The limitations under this subsection are as follows:
  - (1) The [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) 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)](#a).
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may not exercise the authority under [subsection (a)](#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.

## Source credit

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