At least 10 percent of US bomb-sniffing dogs sent to Jordan died from mistreatment

by Marty Johnson - 12/21/19 1:47 PM ET

The State Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that more U.S. bomb-sniffing dogs than previously known had died overseas due to mistreatment.

The OIG in September published a report that found that at least 10 of the 100 explosive-detection dogs sent to Jordan between 2008 and 2016 died of “various medical problems,” while others were living in “unhealthy conditions.”

The report also recommended that the U.S. stop sending dogs to Jordan until a plan was put in place to ensure better treatment for them.

On Friday, the OIG released a follow-up report that stated that the department had “received notice of additional canine deaths that warrant immediate Department action,” CNN reported.

Specifically, the report found that two canines died in Jordan between June and September of this year. One died from heat stroke, and the other died from insecticide poisoning.

Another dog mentioned in the report currently suffers from leishmaniasis, a treatable but potentially lethal disease that comes from insects such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, according to CNN.

Jordan has received more bomb-sniffing dogs from the U.S. than any other country in the world.

“The death of two canines from non-natural causes — namely, hyperthermia and poisoning — since June 2019 raises serious questions about the Department’s contention that it has taken adequate steps to protect their health and safety,” the report said. “OIG is particularly concerned that the deaths of the two additional Jordanian dogs occurred while four Department-funded personnel were in-country to monitor the care of the dogs.”

Friday’s report also said that the State Department agreed with the OIG’s initial recommendation, though it didn’t agree when it came out in September.

“It asserted that it had taken significant steps to improve the health and welfare of the canines provided to Jordan and, moreover, stated that the program had to continue, regardless of these health and welfare concerns, due to ongoing national security issues in the region,” the report said.

The inspector general’s Friday report also recommended that the U.S. stop sending dogs to Egypt.

According to the report, three of the 10 bomb-sniffing dogs that the U.S. sent to Egypt have also died. Two died in August 2018 and the third died of heat stroke in September of this year.

The State Department reportedly agreed with the recommendation.

Tags Animal welfare CNN Egypt explosives detecting dogs Jordan Office of Inspector General Office of Inspector General State Department