Thank you very much, Mr. Wilks.
As I've done on other occasions, and as I know other witnesses have, I thank you for your service in uniform. Your experience, I think, is very important and instructive on a number of these cases.
You referenced the training regime that these animals go through. What I have seen in both the police training of animals and the military training—and they're often contract employees—is that it's extremely demanding or rigorous. These animals are selected the same way that Olympic athletes might be selected. Again, I don't think that's a stretch because many of these animals just don't make the cut, they don't have the physical prowess. We have an Olympian here, Kyle Seeback, who can speak to that as well.
But I truly believe that it goes back to the question of the value that we place on these animals, the investment. Some of these animals, when you calculate that training regime, the investment of time and effort put in by individuals with expertise in the area, you're talking about a value of tens of thousands of dollars. These are not show animals; these are work animals. These are specimens known for their strength, their endurance, and their ability to respond to commands.
Every dog, as you know and as you alluded to, forms a very special bond with their handler. There is, again, that very special esprit de corps that exists in dog handling units. They are ready to die for one another and they are very often in circumstances where that possibility exists.
I come back to the very important point that I think these are animals deserving the type of protection afforded to them by placing greater emphasis on deterring individuals or anyone who would deliberately harm an animal in the provision of that service.