The Unspoken Heroes: Honoring The Sacrifice Of War Dogs In Afghanistan

Military working dogs have been an integral part of the US Army's operations in Afghanistan, assisting troops in detecting explosives, finding illegal drugs, and searching for missing comrades. These dogs also serve as therapy dogs and loyal companions to the soldiers, sharing the same risks and often suffering injuries and death on the battlefield.

During the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, there was controversy over the alleged abandonment of dozens of contracted working dogs. The Pentagon, however, denied these claims, stating that all US military working dogs were evacuated and that no dogs were left behind at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. Despite the denial, animal welfare groups asserted that some contract working dogs, which were not owned by the US military but worked alongside them, were left behind and faced an uncertain fate.

While the exact number of war dogs killed in Afghanistan is not readily available, a study identified 92 military working dogs that died while deployed in the region from 2001 to 2013. Injuries, primarily from gunshot wounds, explosions, and heat stress, were the leading cause of death for these canines.

Military working dogs (MWDs) are exposed to harsh environments and dangers that increase their risk of death

MWDs deployed to war zones face similar risks as ground troops and are exposed to harsh environments and battlefield hazards. They are at risk of disease, injuries, and death from gunshot wounds, explosions, and heat stress. In a study of MWD deaths during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2013, it was found that injuries were the primary cause of death for 77% of the MWDs, with gunshot wounds, explosions, and heat stress being the most common external causes.

The use of dogs in military operations is expected to increase due to their effectiveness in performing tasks beyond human capabilities. MWDs have been used extensively in recent conflicts, with their extraordinary sensory capabilities enabling them to excel in explosive and narcotic detection, patrol, and security. They serve as a force multiplier, enhancing the capabilities of their human counterparts.

MWDs are often exposed to harsh environments, such as extreme heat, which can affect their operational ability and overall health. This was the third most common cause of death in the study, with eight out of nine heat stress-related deaths occurring in Afghanistan. Strategies to reduce heat injury among MWDs are crucial to improving their survival rates.

Diseases and conditions also contribute to MWD deaths, with gastric dilation and volvulus, pleuritis, and sepsis being the most common causes. Additionally, a small number of deaths were associated with anesthesia during medical procedures. Access to care, evacuation capabilities, and limitations in advanced diagnostics and surgical capabilities may also play a role in MWD deaths from non-battle diseases and conditions.

The challenges of studying MWD deaths include identifying deceased dogs, locating their veterinary treatment records, inconsistencies in documentation, and missing data. The implementation of electronic record-keeping systems and improvements in data collection methods are necessary to address these challenges and provide more comprehensive information on MWD deaths.

The care and treatment of injured MWDs also present unique challenges. Veterinary personnel are often not at the point of injury and rely on handlers to evacuate wounded dogs to medical or veterinary care. Training handlers in lifesaving procedures and involving them in documenting the care provided can help improve the quality of treatment and data collection.

The recent withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan also raised concerns about the fate of MWDs. While the Pentagon stated that no military service dogs were left behind, animal welfare groups claimed that dozens of contracted working dogs were abandoned and faced torture and death. This incident highlights the need for improved protocols to ensure the safety and evacuation of MWDs during military operations.

Injuries are the primary cause of death for 77.2% of MWDs

Military working dogs (MWDs) are invaluable assets in war zones, where they perform tasks such as tracking, patrol, and scent detection. They are exposed to harsh environments and battlefield dangers, which increase their risk of injury and death. A study on the causes of death among MWDs deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from 2001 to 2013 revealed some alarming statistics. Out of the 92 MWDs that died during this period, injuries were the primary cause of death for 77.2% of the cases.

Gunshot wounds (GSW) were the most frequent external injury, accounting for 31.5% of MWD deaths. This was closely followed by explosions or blasts, which caused 26.1% of the fatalities. Heat stress was also a significant factor, contributing to 9.8% of MWD deaths. Interestingly, the proportion of deaths due to GSW was similar between OEF and OIF (30.2% and 34.5%, respectively). However, a higher proportion of MWDs perished from explosions during OEF compared to OIF (30.2% vs. 17.2%).

The study also revealed that diseases were the cause of death in 23.0% of the MWDs. The most common diseases were gastric dilation and volvulus (3 cases), pleuritis (2 cases), and sepsis (3 cases). Additionally, two deaths were associated with anesthesia-related medical procedures.

The high rate of injury-related deaths among MWDs underscores the dangers they face in war zones and the need for improved training and medical care to reduce casualties.

The US denies abandoning military dogs in Afghanistan, despite viral images suggesting otherwise

In August 2021, the Pentagon denied claims that the US military left military dogs behind in Afghanistan. Viral images showed dogs in crates at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The Pentagon stated that the dogs in the images were under the care of Kabul Small Animal Rescue and not the US military. The animal welfare group said some contract working dogs, which did not belong to the US, were left at the airport.

The controversy arose after the US ended its 20-year war in Afghanistan. In the final days of the conflict, social media posts claimed that the US was not evacuating its service dogs. An image of dogs in crates in front of a damaged helicopter was shared by Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who indicated that it was taken at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The post was liked more than 259,000 times and shared widely on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. Donald Trump Jr. also shared the image, criticising the Biden administration.

The Pentagon denied these claims, stating that no military working dogs were left behind at the airport. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby clarified that the photos circulating online were of animals under the care of Kabul Small Animal Rescue. He added that the priority mission was the evacuation of US citizens and vulnerable Afghans, not animals.

However, animal welfare groups, including American Humane, said that some contract working dogs were left behind. These dogs, which may have been contracted by the military, were reportedly denied access to cargo storage and evacuation flights. The Department of Defense disputed this claim, stating that private charter planes were not denied access to the airport.

The fate of the contract working dogs remains unclear. While military working dogs are evacuated with their handlers, the responsibility for transporting contract working dogs falls on the contracting companies. Kabul Small Animal Rescue, founded by American Charlotte Maxwell-Jones, was working to evacuate animals, including some contract working dogs, from Afghanistan. However, they faced challenges due to customs regulations and difficulties in finding a third country that would allow a plane carrying animals to land.

Contract working dogs, which are not owned by the US military, were left behind

During the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, animal welfare groups claimed that some contract working dogs were left behind at Kabul airport. These dogs, which were not owned by the US military, were reportedly under the care of Kabul Small Animal Rescue (KSAR), an animal welfare group.

The Department of Defense denied that any military working dogs were left behind, stating that all their dogs had been evacuated with their handlers. However, they did not deny the authenticity of viral images of dogs in crates at the airport, instead claiming that the dogs in the images were under the care of KSAR.

American Humane, an animal welfare group, released a statement expressing devastation at reports that contract working dogs were left behind. They offered to transport the dogs to the US and provide for their lifetime medical care. The statement also called on Congress to classify contract working dogs on the same level as military working dogs to prevent such incidents from occurring again.

Joshua Hosler, president of Veteran Sheepdogs of America, said his organization was given 51 working dogs to evacuate from Kabul. He estimated the cost of a 737 plane out of Kabul to be $1.67 million and raised funds for the evacuation. However, an animal rescue organization fell through, and they were left scrambling to cover the remaining $500,000 needed.

It is estimated that there were around 150 contract dogs left in Afghanistan, belonging to various private contracting companies. One of the companies identified was GardaWorld, which worked with KSAR to bring their dogs home safely.

While the exact number of contract working dogs left behind is unclear, animal welfare groups expressed concern for their fate, stating that they faced torture and death at the hands of enemies.

Animal welfare groups say these dogs were left to be tortured and killed

Animal welfare groups have stated that the US government left military contract working dogs behind in Afghanistan, condemning them to be "tortured and killed" by the Taliban. American Humane, a non-profit animal welfare group, released a statement saying:

> 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.

American Humane urged Congress to take action, calling for contract working dogs to be classified at the same level as military working dogs to prevent such incidents from occurring again. They also offered to help transport the dogs to the US and provide for their lifetime medical care.

The US Department of Defense denied these claims, stating that no military working dogs were left behind at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul and that the viral images circulating online were of animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not the US military. They maintained that their priority mission was evacuating US citizens, visa holders, and vulnerable Afghans.

However, there were conflicting reports about the fate of the contract working dogs. Some sources claimed that private charter planes attempting to evacuate the dogs were denied access to the airport by the military. It was also reported that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's temporary suspension of the importation of dogs from countries with a high risk of rabies, including Afghanistan, posed an obstacle to evacuating the dogs.

The exact number of contract working dogs left behind is unclear, with estimates ranging from 45 to 50. The fate of these dogs remains unknown.

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