Pentagon Denies Leaving Service Dogs in Kabul

On Aug. 30, the Pentagon denied claims that the U.S. military left service dogs in the Kabul airport after the last troops departed from Afghanistan.

In an interview with USA Today, Department of Defense spokesperson Eric Pahon stated, “To correct erroneous reports, the US military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, to include the reported ‘military working dogs.’”

Claims for  US-contracted service dogs being left in Afghanistan originally surfaced on Twitter. The Kabul Small Animals Rescue Twitter page (that was recently deleted) posted an image of dogs in kennels in an airport (see below).

When asked about the statement by Pahon, U.S. Marines Veteran and president of Vanguard’s Veterans Club Brian Stone stated, “Every time the Department of Defense or Homeland Security makes a statement so specific, it is because that is the only way they can be truthful. Usually, when they release specific statements like that, it’s because changing or removing just one word will change it completely.”

Stone highlighted that Pahon didn’t address other airports and said cages and not kennels. Stone has spent 9 years serving the U.S. Marine Corps., owns a service dog, and has worked with them in his military experience.

“They slept with us,” Stone said. According to him, only time they were in kennels is when they were in transport. “I believe they didn’t leave dogs in that specific airport, and that they didn’t leave dogs in cages. Do I believe they left dogs in kennels in that airport, or left them at another airport? Yes.”

Stone also stated that word of mouth and the source are the biggest factors when it comes to situations like these concerning Pahon’s quote, “You need to take into account who the source is. Framing is important, just like the quote. Word of mouth is important, but the source is important, too.”

In short time, the image began to go viral on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, with users claiming they were service dogs abandoned in Kabul.

https://twitter.com/ASBMilitary/status/1432522690389286914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1432522690389286914%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesnownews.com%2Finternational%2Farticle%2Fus-military-leaves-behind-dozens-of-service-dogs-in-afghanistan-as-they-wrap-up-military-intervention-report%2F805866

On Aug. 30, the same day the Pentagon denied the claims, North Carolina Representative Madison Cawthorn posted the image on Instagram with the caption:

“Contract service dogs left behind in Kabul. I have a service/defense dog and he is my best friend. I can’t imagine leaving him behind anywhere. These people are scum.”

The original picture that claimed the dogs were service dogs has been deleted, with the picture circulating on social media since its conception on Aug. 30.

President and CEO of American Humane Dr. Robert R. Ganzert issued a statement on Aug. 30 as well, criticizing the US military for abandoning service dogs.

In his statement, Ganzert said, “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.”

Conflict between the U.S. and Afghanistan officially ended on the same day that the original photo went viral, once the final U.S. troops departed Kabul. The Pentagon has not addressed the claims since Aug. 30, but the photo continues to surface across social media.