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."

The Kabul Small Animal Rescue provides "high-quality medical care to owned dogs as well as veterinary care, boarding, and adoption options to injured or orphaned street animals."

The images caused worldwide condemnation and the American Humane organization issued a scathing rebuke of the alleged desertion.

“I am devastated by reports that the American government is pulling out of Kabul and leaving behind brave U.S. military contract working dogs to be tortured and killed at the hand of our enemies. These brave dogs do the same dangerous, lifesaving work as our military working dogs, and deserved a far better fate than the one to which they have been condemned," said President Dr. Robin R. Ganzert. "This senseless fate is made all the more tragic, as American Humane stands ready to not only help transport these contract K-9 soldiers to U.S. soil but also to provide for their lifetime medical care."

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CGM5, Tue, 08/31/2021 - 15:39

I hope they didn't abandon the dogs but, I wouldn't doubt it. Everything in this circus has been screwed up.

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