AU.S. Department of Defense spokesperson on Tuesday denied online reports that the U.S. military left contract working dogs behind in Afghanistan.
“The U.S. priority mission was the evacuation of U.S. citizens, SIV [Special Immigrant Visa applicants] and vulnerable Afghans,” the spokesperson told Newsweek in an email. “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.'”
The statement came after some news outlets reported military dogs were left behind during the evacuation from Kabul. Those reports led animal rights group American Humane to release a statement that condemned the U.S. government.
“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,” American Humane President and CEO Robin Ganzert said in a statement posted on the organization’s website.
