Pentagon Denies U.S. Service Dogs Were Abandoned In Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Over the course of the last few days images showing dogs in cages left in Afghanistan claimed they were service dogs abandoned by the U.S military forces. Pentagon officials have now debunked the claim.

The images making the rounds on social media showed dogs in cages in front of a disabled helicopter. Pentagon officials denied the U.S. abandoned any service animals and clarified the dogs featured in the images were under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue.

The organization is a non-profit organization that rescues animals in Afghanistan.  

"The U.S. priority mission was the evacuation of U.S. citizens, SIV, and vulnerable Afghans. However, to correct erroneous reports, the U.S. military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, to include the reported 'military working dogs," said a spokesperson for the Defense Department. "Photos circulating online were animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not dogs under the care of the U.S. military. Despite an ongoing complicated and dangerous retrograde mission, U.S. forces went to great lengths to assist the Kabul Small Animal Rescue as much as possible."