Reports to us from #Kabul, including those from the military, made it clear that not only were contract working dogs denied access to cargo storage in the last flights out, but that the govt. also denied charter planes access to remove the dogs to safety. #NoPawsLeftBehind
— American Humane (@AmericanHumane) August 31, 2021
Following these troubling reports from American Humane, images appeared online of service dogs at the Kabul airport, locked inside crates. Needless to say, this did not go over well. Many Americans blasted the Biden administration for having the gall to subject U.S. service dogs to this sort of treatment.
A different account from the U.S. Pentagon
American Humane’s reports about the government’s treatment of service dogs caused a lot of heat. Shortly thereafter, the Pentagon responded to the statements from American Humane.
Per the Pentagon, the Kabul Small Animal Rescue was caring for the service dogs photographed in crates at the Afghanistan airport. Likewise, the Pentagon also stated the American military never abandoned service dogs in Kabul. Following this account from the Pentagon, the Military Working Dog Team Support Association confirmed it.
The Pentagon’s account of service dogs’ treatment varies greatly from that of American Humane. Moreover, it doesn’t seem likely that American Humane would make such claims about U.S. service dogs without credible reports and evidence.
