National Police Association Backs PEARL Act for CBP Canine Program

The proposed legislation, H.R. 9327 in the House and S. 4079 in the Senate, directs the Department of Homeland Security to launch a three-year pilot program sourcing dogs from local animal shelters for the agency’s support unit. Unlike previous iterations of the bill, this version requires no new federal appropriations, mandating that training and veterinary costs be absorbed by existing agency budgets.

The Support Canine Program, which debuted in 2023, was designed to mitigate rising rates of burnout, trauma, and grief among CBP personnel. By pairing employees with trained therapy dogs, the agency seeks to address the mental toll of long shifts in extreme conditions. Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director for the NPA, argued that the act serves a dual purpose: providing essential wellness support for officers while rescuing animals from shelters. The House approved the measure on September 16, 2026, and the bill now awaits action in the Senate.