Owais Crawford
As the US withdrew from Afghanistan, viral images circulated on social media of dogs in cages at Kabul airport. The Pentagon and Department of Defense denied that these were US military dogs, stating that they did not leave any dogs behind. However, animal welfare groups and an American Humane spokesperson claimed that some contract working dogs, owned by private companies, were left behind. These dogs were reportedly denied access to cargo storage and charter planes. While the US prioritised evacuating citizens, SIV applicants, and vulnerable Afghans, the fate of these dogs remains uncertain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of dogs left behind | 51, 130, 150, 60, 50 |
| Type of dogs left behind | Contract working dogs, service dogs, military working dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs |
| Owners of the dogs | Kabul Small Animal Rescue, private contracting companies, Afghans, U.S. embassy employees, independent defence contractors |
| Location of the dogs | Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul |
| Status of the dogs | Safe, unable to leave, abandoned, evacuated, denied access to cargo storage, denied access to charter planes |
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What You'll Learn
The US military denies abandoning dogs at Kabul airport
The US military has denied claims that it abandoned dogs at Kabul airport during the evacuation of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Images circulated on social media showing dogs in crates in front of a damaged US helicopter at Kabul airport. The pictures sparked outrage, with some claiming that the US military had left its military working dogs behind. However, the Pentagon and the Department of Defense refuted these allegations. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby took to Twitter to clarify that the US military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, including military working dogs. He explained that the photos circulating online were of animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not the US military.
Animal welfare groups and the American Humane organisation asserted that while the dogs in question may not have belonged to the US military, some were contract working dogs, which were left behind. These dogs are owned and trained by private companies and are contracted for work that can include military operations. American Humane President and CEO Robin Ganzert condemned what she called a "death sentence" for these dogs, stating that they were left "to be tortured and killed". She demanded that any abandoned dogs be loaded into cargo space and flown to safety, offering her organisation's assistance.
In response, the Pentagon spokesperson Eric Pahon acknowledged the support provided to Kabul Small Animal Rescue, stating that US forces went to great lengths to assist the organisation. The Defense Department maintained that its military service dogs were evacuated with their handlers in mid-August, and that reports of abandoned dogs were false. However, advocates for the dogs noted that their fate remained uncertain, and SPCA International lamented that their efforts to rescue the dogs of Kabul Small Animal Rescue had been thwarted by restrictions on access to military aircraft and the airport.
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Animal welfare groups say contract working dogs were left
The US military has denied allegations that it left military working dogs behind at Kabul airport during the evacuation from Afghanistan. The Pentagon press secretary, John Kirby, stated that the US military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, including military working dogs. He clarified that photos circulating online were of animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue (KSAR), not the US military.
However, animal welfare groups and advocates, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International (SPCA International) and American Humane, have asserted that some contract working dogs were left behind. These dogs, owned and trained by private companies, were contracted for work that could include military and other operations. American Humane's president and CEO, Robin Ganzert, stated that the US government was leaving these dogs to be "tortured and killed at the hand of our enemies."
According to reports received by American Humane from people on the ground in Kabul, contract working dogs were denied access to cargo storage on the last flights out, and charter planes attempting to remove the dogs to safety were also denied access. SPCA International's director of programs, Lori Kalef, expressed heartbreak that their secured aircraft to transport the KSAR dogs was not allowed to take the animals and their caretakers out of the country.
While the exact number of contract working dogs left behind is unclear, estimates range from 46 to 150 dogs. These dogs faced uncertain fates, with some advocates suggesting they were at risk of torture and death. Efforts to evacuate these animals, such as Operation Hercules, encountered challenges due to stringent safety regulations, unrest at the airport, and flight restrictions.
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Viral photos show animals under the care of Kabul Small Animal Rescue
As the US's 20-year war in Afghanistan came to a chaotic end, viral posts on social media focused on the fate of the dogs that worked with the military. Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn shared an image of dog carriers in front of a damaged helicopter at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, claiming that it showed American service dogs abandoned by the US military. However, the Department of Defense rejected this claim, stating that no military working dogs were left behind in Afghanistan. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby clarified on Twitter that the photos circulating online were of animals under the care of Kabul Small Animal Rescue (KSAR), not the US military.
Kabul Small Animal Rescue is a veterinary clinic and animal shelter in Afghanistan that provides care and shelter for injured, orphaned, and homeless animals, including dogs, cats, livestock, birds, rabbits, and tortoises. They also offer routine care for owned animals and provide adoption services to find loving homes for homeless pets both domestically and internationally. KSAR was founded by Charlotte Maxwell-Jones, who reported that 46 of the dogs in their care were contract working dogs owned and trained by private companies, not the US military.
In the midst of the evacuation efforts, KSAR posted updates on social media about their attempts to evacuate animals from Kabul's airport through Operation Hercules, a crowd-funded, non-military evacuation effort. They described the animals as "dogs and cats left behind as people flee" and noted that some evacuation flights did not allow animals. Despite these challenges, KSAR worked tirelessly to rescue and protect the animals in their care.
The viral photos of animals in crates at the Kabul airport highlighted the plight of animals caught in the chaos of the US evacuation from Afghanistan. While the US military denied abandoning any dogs, the incident brought attention to the dedicated work of organizations like Kabul Small Animal Rescue, which strives to care for and find homes for animals in need, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
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American Humane condemns the US government
American Humane, the country's first national humane organization, has condemned the US government for the fate of contract working dogs left behind in Kabul, Afghanistan. In a press release, Dr. Robin R. Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane, expressed devastation at reports that the US government was pulling out of Kabul and leaving behind military contract working dogs to face torture and death.
American Humane's statement came in response to viral images circulating online that showed dogs in crates in front of a damaged helicopter at Kabul International Airport. While the Department of Defense rejected the claim that these were US military dogs, animal welfare groups and American Humane confirmed that some contract working dogs were left behind. These dogs were owned and trained by private companies and contracted for work, including military operations.
In her statement, Ganzert demanded that any dogs abandoned in Afghanistan be loaded into available cargo space and flown to safety. She also called on Congress to take action to classify contract working dogs on the same level as military working dogs to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. American Humane offered to assist in transporting the dogs to the US and providing for their lifetime medical care.
The plight of the dogs left behind in Kabul sparked widespread concern, with groups like Kabul Small Animal Rescue and SPCA International leading evacuation efforts for animals in the region. Despite challenges, including stringent safety regulations and flight restrictions, these organizations worked tirelessly to rescue and provide for the affected animals.
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Efforts to evacuate animals from Afghanistan
Another group involved in animal evacuation efforts is the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, which cares for animals injured or displaced during the war in Afghanistan. They led a crowd-funded, non-military evacuation effort called "Operation Hercules" to fly animals out of Kabul's airport. However, they faced challenges as some evacuation flights did not allow animals, and their chartered flights were denied access to the airport. Social media posts showing dogs in crates at the airport fueled concerns about the fate of these animals, with some reports incorrectly claiming that they were U.S. military service dogs left behind. The U.S. Department of Defense and Pentagon officials denied these claims, clarifying that the dogs belonged to private contractors and were not abandoned by the U.S. military.
The UK government offered support to evacuate staff and animals from charity sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated that if Farthing arrived at Kabul airport with his animals, they would find a slot for his plane. However, Wallace emphasized that their priority was evacuating people in real danger and that they could not push animals through Taliban checks or crowds. The evacuation efforts received mixed reactions, with some criticizing the use of military resources for rescuing animals while others supported the efforts.
The evacuation of animals from Afghanistan highlights the challenges faced by rescue organizations and shelters in ensuring the safety and well-being of both their personnel and the animals under their care during times of political upheaval and crisis. These efforts underscore the dedication and determination of individuals and groups working tirelessly to protect and save as many lives as possible.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. military has denied allegations that military working dogs were left behind at Kabul airport. However, animal welfare groups say some contract working dogs, which did not belong to the U.S. military, were left behind.
Contract working dogs are owned and trained by private companies and are contracted for work that can include military and other operations.
The fate of the dogs left behind at Kabul airport is unclear. Some sources say that the dogs were released from their cages in an enclosed area at the airport, while others claim that they were left to suffer in the heat without adequate food or water.
