Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds celebrate 100 years with the AKC. Both German Shepherds and Dobermans were the devil's dogs in World War II (Mahood). Both dog breeds have given years of military service. Both dogs were faithful, loyal and incredibly intelligent companions. Both dogs are ranked in the top five for obedience and working intelligence ("dog intelligence ranking"). However, the German Shepherd is currently the working dog of the military police and its veteran companion, the Doberman Pinscher, is currently prohibited from living on military bases. How is banning the breed fair or even effective? On January 5, 2009, the Department of the Army released a memorandum announcing a new pet policy for families living in military base housing. The policy prohibits Pitbulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Chow Chows and wolf hybrids. This was decided by the Residential Communities Initiative (RCI), made up of six private companies that manage accommodation on base (Bollinger). How did the RCI arrive at deciding which dog breeds were considered “dangerous” and therefore banned? According to the pet policy FAQ, RCI “evaluated the input of current residents, past experience with animals in apartment complexes (both on-site and off-site) and the effect on the Projects' ability to achieve and maintain adequate liability insurance at a reasonable price” (“Frequently Asked Questions”). In other words, pure anecdotal evidence. No scientific tests or studies of any kind. In fact, when studying dog bite victims involving military children from 2007 to 2010, none of these children were bitten by Doberman Pinschers ("Dog Bite Fatalities..."). Additionally, in a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that covered… at the center of the article… “Dog Bite Deaths Involving Military Children on and Off of the basics". Blog about dog bites. Lyn Media Group, August 3, 2010. Web. December 16, 2011. "Frequently Asked Questions - Pet Policy for Housing Privatized under the Army's Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) Privatization Program." The villages of Fort Irwin. Irwin.Army.Mil, April 1, 2009. Web. December 16, 2011. "Help find a missing medical alert dog named Bella." CBS 8. WorldNow and Midwest Television, Inc., December 14, 2011. Web. December 16, 2011. Mahood, January “SUPERDOGS at the CENTENNIAL.” AKC Journal 125.12 (2008): 30-35. ProQuest Research Library. Network. December 16, 2011. Rolfe, David S. “U.S. Army Veterinary Command (VETCOM) Information and Guidance – Policy for Privatized Housing under the Army Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) Privatization Program ". Note for distribution. 17 February 2009. Web. 16 December. 2011.