Service animals play a vital role in our society. From military and law enforcement to search and rescue and personal assistance, these animals dedicate their lives to helping humans. Despite their immense contributions and sacrifices, there is currently no national monument in Washington, D.C., that formally honors their legacy.
The National Service Animals Memorial organization is working to change that. After receiving congressional authorization, the project has officially advanced to the site selection phase in the nation's capital. In this interview, we discuss the journey to secure congressional approval, the importance of recognizing these animal heroes, and the next steps for building the memorial.
Q: Getting congressional authorization for a national memorial is a massive undertaking. What were the biggest challenges your team faced in securing this approval?
Susan Bahary: (To be clear: we already received Congressional approval in 2022 to locate the monument on federal land in DC, but we are now seeking passage of a bill to locate us on the National Mall Reserve) We received great support and our bill passed in one year. One of the biggest challenges is helping people understand the breadth of what we are proposing. When people hear “service animals,” they may initially think of one category—perhaps military working dogs or assistance dogs. But this monument is about something much larger: the extraordinary partnership between animals and people throughout our nation’s history.
We had to demonstrate that this was truly a national story—one that crosses generations, wars and many forms of service. These animals have served alongside our military, law enforcement and first responders; searched for the missing after disasters; guided and provided independence to people with disabilities; and performed remarkable work that human beings simply could not do alone.
The other challenge was navigating the congressional process itself. You need bipartisan support, persistence, and people in Congress who really understand why the subject matters.
What ultimately made the difference was the strength of the history itself. Once people understood how deeply these human-animal teams are woven into our nation’s history—and that there had never been a national monument recognizing them collectively—the case became very compelling. Congress ultimately authorized the National Service Animals Monument in 2022, and that was an extraordinary milestone for us.
Q: Why is it so important to establish a permanent physical memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated specifically to service animals?
Susan Bahary: Because these animals have been part of our nation’s history from its earliest days, yet their collective service has never been permanently recognized in our nation’s capital.
They have served beside us in war, protected our communities, searched for the missing, guided people who cannot see, given independence to people with disabilities, detected threats and disease, and provided comfort and support in some of our most difficult moments. And always, there is a person on the other end of that partnership—a handler, a veteran, a first responder, or someone whose life has been transformed by that animal.
A permanent memorial in Washington says that this service mattered and that it is part of our nation’s history. It gives future generations a place to learn these stories and understand the extraordinary bond between people and animals in service to one another.
And I think there is something particularly powerful about bringing all of these partnerships together in one place. We have memorials that tell many important chapters of our history, but this thread runs through so many of them and has never been recognized as a whole.
For me, it comes down to something very simple: they served us, they changed lives, and in many cases they saved lives. They deserve to be remembered.
Q: The term "service animal" covers a wide range of roles and species. Which types of animals and historical services will this monument highlight?
Susan Bahary: It really is remarkably broad, and that is one of the most important things about the monument. We use “service animals” in a broad historical sense to recognize animals that have served alongside people in many different capacities throughout our nation’s history.
We’ll represent military working animals, including dogs, horses, mules and even carrier pigeons; law-enforcement and public-safety animals; search-and-rescue and disaster-response dogs; guide and assistance dogs that provide independence to people with disabilities; and animals involved in medical detection, therapy and other forms of service. We also want to recognize some of the less familiar stories, including marine mammals that have performed important work for our military.
Historically, the monument will span from the earliest years of our country through today. So you may encounter the horses and mules that were indispensable in wartime, Cher Ami carrying a critical message during World War I, military working dogs serving in later conflicts, guide dogs such as Buddy helping open a new world of independence for people who were blind, and the extraordinary search, rescue and working-dog teams of 9/11.
But we don't want this to become simply a collection of famous animal stories. The larger story is the partnership—the animals and the people who trained them, worked beside them, depended upon them and sometimes owed their lives to them. That human-animal bond is really at the heart of the monument.
Q: Now that the project has advanced to the site selection phase, what specific criteria are you looking for in a location?
Susan Bahary: We’re looking for a location that has a meaningful connection to the history the monument will tell. This isn’t simply about finding an available piece of land—it’s about finding a place where the setting helps visitors understand why this history matters.
Because service animals have been part of our nation’s military history, public safety, assistance work and response to national crises, we believe the monument should be situated where those connections can be understood in the context of other important chapters of American history.
We’re also looking at practical considerations: accessibility, visibility, the visitor experience, compatibility with the surrounding landscape, and enough space to create something contemplative and educational without overwhelming the site.
One particularly meaningful opportunity is proximity to the U.S. Park Police horse stables and K-9 operations. There is something extraordinary about being able to commemorate this history in a place where service animals are still working today. It creates a connection between history and living service that would be very difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Ultimately, we want a location where the monument feels as though it belongs—historically, symbolically and physically—and where generations of visitors can understand the full breadth of the service we are honoring.
Q: Building a national monument requires significant funding and backing. How can everyday citizens get involved and help bring this project to life?
Susan Bahary: There are so many ways people can be part of this, and we really do want it to belong to the American people. The monument will be funded entirely through private philanthropy, so support from individuals, organizations, foundations and companies is essential to bringing it to life.
People can donate at any level, but they can also help simply by spreading the word—sharing the project with friends, veterans’ organizations, service-animal communities, businesses and others who may connect with the mission. And right now, as we work to secure the appropriate location in Washington, public awareness and support are particularly important.
We also want people to share their stories with us. Almost everyone seems to have a connection to an animal that served—perhaps a military working dog, a police K-9, a guide or assistance dog, a search-and-rescue team, or an animal that changed the life of someone they love. Those stories are part of the history we are trying to preserve.
Ultimately, this monument will only happen because people decide that this service deserves to be remembered. Whether someone gives $25, introduces us to a potential major supporter, shares our mission, or tells us a story that should not be forgotten, they can help us build it.
This discussion highlights the deep bond between humans and service animals. Establishing this memorial goes beyond a simple tribute. It serves as a permanent educational landmark that teaches future generations about the dedication, bravery, and sacrifice of these animals.
Recognizing the contributions of service animals is a long overdue effort. As the National Service Animals Memorial secures its official location, the project brings the nation one step closer to honoring these unsung heroes. This monument will stand as a lasting reminder of their invaluable service to our country.
To learn more visit https://nationalserviceanimalsmonument.org/