Dogs working alongside military troops are considered equipment. In other words, a dog that sniffs for bombs is no different than a metal detector.

That means when retirement comes, the military can declare that the thousands of dollars that it costs to bring a dog back from a place as far as Afghanistan isn't worth it. The Defense Department deems the transports as "waste, fraud and abuse," according to Debbie Kandoll.

She's been one of the leading advocates for changing the classification of military dogs. Kandoll, the wife of an Air Force serviceman, runs a nonprofit organization that helps the military connect veteran dogs to families who want to adopt them.

Legislation signed into law more than a decade prevents the government from euthanizing military dogs without good reason. But newer legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama in January did nothing to address the classification of dogs as equipment.

Though Kandoll had wanted to address the classification of dogs by itself, another advocacy group pushed for a comprehensive military canine bill. Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) had the reclassification provision removed.

"We wanted to do it in parts, but different groups got there before us," Kandoll recently said at an event at UCLA.

The new legislation calls for the Pentagon to set up a system whereby people can donate frequent flier miles to pay for the return journeys of retired dogs. But there's no telling how long will pass before that system begins.

Kandoll recently raised enough money to pay for the $1,895 transport of dog from Manheim, Germany back to the States. She's brought six dogs back from Germany in total.

The hope is new legislation this year will reclassify dogs as actual sentient beings. That would require the Pentagon to pay for the dogs to get back to their origin -- the same as a servicemember.

Meanwhile, Kandoll is also advocating for a crackdown on military contractors who euthanize dogs instead of bringing them back to America. She wants to act as a middlewoman for those dogs, too.

"This is a bonafide ministry for me for the rest of my life as long as I can keep moving," she said.

Kandoll with retired bomb-finding dog Alex. (Photos by Alan Mittelstaedt)

Like reporter Paresh Dave on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, circle him on Google+ or send him an e-mail.