Pentagon denies leaving service dogs in cages at Kabul airport

The Pentagon is denying reports that the U.S. military left service dogs behind in cages at Kabul airport after pulling its last troops out of the country.

“Photos circulating online were animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not dogs under our care,” Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby tweeted on Tuesday.

To correct erroneous reports, the U.S. Military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, including the reported military working dogs. Photos circulating online were animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not dogs under our care.

— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 31, 2021

The claim the military left behind working dogs first appeared from American Humane. 

“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. We stand ready to bring them home,” the organization tweeted on Monday.

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. We stand ready to bring them home! Read our CEO @RobinGanzert‘s full statement: https://t.co/IKhBkm4B7a pic.twitter.com/ItFlthDTAi

— American Humane (@AmericanHumane) August 30, 2021

The claim was picked up in the media, with Fox News’s Dana Perino asking Kirby about the report earlier Tuesday.

At the time, Kirby said he was not aware of the reports of dogs left behind.

“I did not know there was an issue with military working dogs. Obviously, we are partial to our working dogs and they’re heroes in their own right,” he said.

The U.S. completely pulled out of Afghanistan on Monday after 20 years at war, evacuating thousands of Americans and Afghan allies. An unknown number of Americans and thousands of Afghan allies remain in the country.