Pentagon Denies It Left Military Dogs Behind in Afghanistan

 

Military.com: Pentagon Denies It Left Military Dogs Behind in Afghanistan 

The U.S. military on Tuesday denied reports in the wake of its departure from Afghanistan that it had left working dogs behind at the airport in Kabul, or that it had abandoned dogs in cages. 

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a tweet that U.S. troops did not leave dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport when its last flights took off Monday afternoon, East Coast time.  

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Update: Pentagon denies, criticizes viral reports that US left service dogs in Afghanistan (USA Today)  

WNU Editor: The dogs at the airport either came from families who could not take them onto departing aircraft, or contractor dogs who faced the same flight restrictions. In my opinion, the US military should have made an exception to the dogs who worked with the contractors.

US Military Abandons Dozens Of K-9 Dogs In Cages While Scrambling To Leave Kabul

Dozens of contracted working dogs have been abandoned by the US in Afghanistan after the troop withdrawal  

Daily Mail: 'Not a great day for America's service dogs': US military abandoned dozens of K-9s alongside planes, Chinooks and Humvees worth BILLIONS in scramble to leave Kabul 

* American Humane said working dogs will likely face 'torture' by the Taliban, condemned the 'death sentence' 

* The organization called on Congress to load the dogs onto available cargo space for evacuation from Kabul 

* US has also left up to 200 civilians and 'demilitarised' equipment in city, with Taliban pictured with hardware 

Dozens of contracted working dogs have been abandoned by the US in Afghanistan, along with up to 200 civilians and military equipment, according to an animal charity. 

The animal welfare group condemned the 'death sentence' for the animals who now face 'torture' at the hands of the Taliban, who took control of the city earlier this month. 

American Humane has called on Congress to rescue the purpose-trained dogs who perform a wide range of duties and work alongside military dogs.  

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WNU Editor: These dogs being left behind is so symbolic on how much of a disaster the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has been. 

More News On The US Military Abandoning Dozens Of K-9 Dogs At Kabul Airport  

American Humane group says US left military dogs behind in Afghanistan -- NYPost  

Animals rights group says US handed ‘death sentence’ to working dogs left behind by troops in Afghanistan -- The Independent 

'Death Sentence': Animal Rights Group Blasts Biden For Allegedly Leaving Contract Dogs Behind In Afghanistan -- Daily Wire  

Non-profit aiming to rescue dozens of military dogs from Afghanistan: report -- FOX News  

Update: These dogs may be saved (see tweet below).

2/3 State Department has heard your cries & is assisting. THANK YOU! The Turkish have taken over the airfield & things are actually smoother than the last 2 days to get info & PPR papers to Ramstein.

— Veteran Sheepdogs of America (@VetSheepdogsUS) August 31, 2021

Update #2: Apparently not (see tweet below).

SPCA International says the rescued dogs in Kabul were released ‘into the airport’ and are now running loose #NoPawsLeftBehind https://t.co/EHv1cKvHUw

— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) August 31, 2021

Russian Military Dogtroopers Perform Special Parachute Drills At 13,000 Feet

Tests have so far proved that the service animals can be dropped by parachute from as high as 13,000 feet  

Daily Mail: It’s gonna be a ruff landing! Russia’s dogtroopers undergo parachute training – by leaping out of planes at 13,000ft 

* The parachuting system can drop dogs from 13,000 ft with their handlers 

* Preliminary trials have been successful and the dogs are able to perform 'adequately' 

* Russia's state technology group said the system would be ready for delivery to the military next year 

* The group is already working on an oxygen system to enable dogs to parachute from 23,000 ft 

Russia's latest military drills involve dogs of war as new parachutes are tested to land military canines in battle zones. 

A video shows final tests of the special dogtroopers landing gear which Vladimir Putin has personally inspected. The system, developed by the Technodinamika Group, is designed to airdrop a dog weighing up to 100lbs onto a battlefield with a parachutist or in tandem with a parachutist and a dog handler. 

Tests have so far proved that the service animals can be dropped by parachute from as high as 13,000 feet, according to the Russian defence ministry's TV channel Zvezda. 

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WNU Editor: The dog's look is priceless.

The White House Has A Dog Problem

President Joe Biden's dog Major has bitten another employee at the White House, according to reports. The German Shepherd was last seen on a walk with an aide on Monday at 5pm 

Daily Mail: Biden's dog Major bites ANOTHER government employee on White House grounds while out for a walk - three weeks after biting WH security guard 

 * The rescue German Shepherd bit a National Park Service employee on Tuesday 

 * Major was out for a walk when he 'nipped' the employee, Jill Biden's office said

 * It comes just three weeks after Major bit another security guard 

 * Biden's beloved dog was banished to the Delaware family home for two weeks 

President Joe Biden's dog Major has bitten another employee at the White House, according to reports. 

A National Park Service employee was taken to the White House Medical Unit for treatment after the German Shepherd 'nipped' him while out for a walk. 

Jill Biden's press secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN: 'Yes, Major nipped someone on a walk. 'Out of an abundance of caution, the individual was seen by WHMU and then returned to work.' 

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Update: Bidens' dog Major involved in another biting incident (CNN) 

WNU Editor: German Shepherds like Major do not nip. They bite. 

The problem with dogs that have been rescued is that they usually have not been trained to be social in public settings. This is going to be a recurring problem for the Bidens with this dog, especially since the staff and the Secret Service now know that they have a dog on the premises that is unpredictable. 

In the meantime some are having fun with this situation (see picture below).

President Biden's German Shepherds Are Taken Back To The Family Home In Delaware

The two German Shepherds belonging to President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were returned to the Biden family home in Delaware last week 

Daily Mail: From the White House to the doghouse! Joe Biden's German Shepherds are taken back to the family home in Delaware after Major 'BIT a security guard and displayed aggressive behavior' 

 * The two German Shepherds belonging to President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were returned to the Biden family home in Delaware last week 

 * The dogs were sent home after the younger one, Major, exhibited aggressive behavior towards White House staff 

 * Major had a 'biting incident' with a member of White House security 

 * Major, who is 3 years old, was adopted in November 2018 from a Delaware animal shelter 

 * Following his move to the White House, he has reportedly displayed agitated behavior on a few occasions 

 * Biden's other dog, Champ, is 14 years old and has slowed down due to his age, which has made the transition easier 

President Joe Biden has sent his two dogs back to his family home in Wilmington, Delaware, after the younger of the two German Shepherds was involved in a 'biting incident' with a White House security agent. 

Three-year-old Major, whom Biden and his wife Jill adopted in November 2018 from an animal shelter, had been displaying aggressive behavior including jumping, barking and charging at White House staff and security. 

The sources described a 'biting incident' involving a member of the security services but did not specify if the person was injured. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The Biden's German Shepherds are big. Major Biden is a three year old rescue dog that I am willing to bet never received the social training that he should have received when he was a puppy. I have had a lot of experience with German Shepherds (it was my father's favorite dog). Dogs like that without the proper training rarely respond well in crowds or new settings. 

The GF and I just got a new Rottweiler that is now 8 weeks old. She is still too young to meet other dogs, but we are making sure that she is meeting new people everyday, as well as playing in different environments. This is the GF's third Rottweiler, and she is a master at making these type of dogs super friendly and well trained. It is a training that never stops, and must be done at a very young age. 

That is her in the bottom picture after picking up Mazikeen (but we call her Maze) last week.

US Army Testing Augmented Reality Goggles For Dogs

The goggles are custom-designed for each dog. 

CNN: The US military is trialing augmented reality goggles for dogs 

Dogs working in the United States military could in the future wear augmented reality (AR) goggles that enable soldiers to give them remote commands during operations. 

The goggles are being developed by Command Sight, a Seattle-based company, with US Army research funding, and would allow military dogs to assist in rescue operations and scout potentially dangerous areas for hazards and explosives while their handlers remain at a safe distance. 

The technology, which the US Army says is the first of its kind, works by letting a handler see everything the dog can see and then provide specific commands using visual cues that show up in the dog's line of vision. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The US Army news release is here .... Augmented reality dog goggles could help protect Soldiers (US Army) 

More News On The US Army Testing Augmented Reality Goggles For Dogs 

Defense to Outfit and Steer Military Dogs with Augmented Reality Goggles -- NextGov 

The US Army is testing augmented reality goggles for dogs -- The Verge 

US Army testing augmented reality goggles on dog -- NYPost 

US Army develops augmented reality goggles for dogs to guide them on the battlefield -- The Telegraph

Should U.S. Military Working Dogs Be American-Born?

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Paul Bourgeois, 3rd MWD Detachment military working dog handler, and his dog Olaf, 633rd SFS MWD, participate in a ruck march in honor of National K9 Veterans Day at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, March 13, 2020. (Kaylee Dubois/U.S. Air Force)

Military.com: US Military Working Dogs Should Be American-Born, Senator Says

A Democratic lawmaker wants the Pentagon to buy American when it comes to its Military Working Dog program.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut included an amendment in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that would require the U.S. Air Force, which oversees the Pentagon's program, to conduct a business case study on what it would take to purchase dogs from U.S. breeders instead of European sources.

"I was surprised to learn from the Air Force that the vast majority of our working dogs are actually born and bred in Europe, which raises costs and puts us in competition with other countries," Blumenthal said in a statement to Military.com on Wednesday. Bloomberg News was first to report the story.

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WNU Editor: The Air Force budgets roughly $5 million annually to buy about 450 dogs each year. This is why most US military dogs are bought from Europe .... It costs about $5,500 to buy a dog from Europe, according to statistics provided by the Air Force. The service pays about $9,000 per dog in the U.S..

The Inside Story On The Dog That Helped Catch Osama bin Laden

Maureen Callahan, NYPost: Inside story of Cairo, the dog that helped catch Osama bin Laden

When Navy SEAL Will Chesney first met a military working dog named Cairo, he didn’t know this canine would be The One: a fearless warrior with a soft side, an attack dog who would know the difference between a baby and a bad guy, the lone non-human US soldier to raid Osama bin Laden’s compound in 2011.

Nope. Back on that fateful day in 2008, after Chesney decided to become a dog handler, he took his first instruction seriously — these dogs weren’t like pets. They were lethal weapons.

Despite that warning, handlers are dog people, and they know how profound this bond is. As Chesney writes in “No Ordinary Dog,” his new memoir of life and military service with this storied veteran (co-authored with Joe Layden), “Cairo was not my first choice. Might as well be honest about that.”

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WNU Editor: A fascinating read.

President Trump Honors Conan The Hero Dog That Helped Corner ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi

Daily Mail: BREAKING NEWS: President Donald Trump honors Conan the hero dog that helped corner al-Baghdadi as the 'ultimate fighter' at White House Rose Garden ceremony – but pooch takes immediate shine to Mike Pence

* Trump appeared with Conan the hero dog
* The timing of the surprise appearance was kept under wraps
* First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were there, along with the dog's handler
* Pence repeatedly petted the animal although the president did not
* The event was not on Trump's public schedule
* He called Conan the 'ultimate fighter'
* Vice President Mike Pence petted the dog repeatedly during appearance
* Conan chased down Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi before the ISIS chief blew himself up
* Earlier Trump had posted a photoshopped image of the animal receiving a medal
* President was attacked because it superimposed the dog on a Vietnam veteran
* But the veteran, James McCloughan, laughed when a reporter showed it to him

President Donald Trump honored Conan the hero dog who helped run down terror leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi with a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden Monday where he saluted the animal's toughness in the field as it solicited pats from Mike Pence.

Trump appeared with Conan outside the Oval Office and lauded his accomplishments, after the military flew the highly-trained animal to Washington from the the Middle East, where the U.S. continues to try to take down the remnants of ISIS.

'Conan is a tough cookie. No one is going to mess with Conan,' said Trump – who famously broke precedent by failing to get a pet to live with him at the White House.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: A beautiful looking dog. Conan definitely likes Vice President Pence, even licking his hand and encouraging him to scratch his head/ears. Melania Trump kept her distance.

Update: Oh oh. The GF just text me if we can get a Belgian Malinois (we already have a rottweiler).

More News On President Donald Trump Honouring Conan The Hero Dog That Helped Corner al-Baghdadi

Conan the dog gets hero’s welcome at White House after raid -- AP
Trump welcomes hero dog at the White House: 'Conan is a tough cookie' -- NBC
'So brilliant, so smart': Trump meets his match in hero dog wounded in Isis raid -- The Guardian
Trump honors military dog from raid that led to ISIS leader's death -- The Hill
Conan, dog injured in al Baghdadi raid, honored by President Trump at White House -- FOX News
Trump honors Conan the hero dog in White House appearance -- CNN
Trump praises Conan, hero dog injured in al-Baghdadi raid, at the White House -- CNBC
'The ultimate fighter': Trump shows off Conan the military dog from Baghdadi raid -- Politico
Troops, canine from raid that killed ISIS leader get White House welcome -- Military Times

Dogs Have Been In The Military Since 600 BC

We have declassified a picture of the wonderful dog (name not declassified) that did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing the Leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi! pic.twitter.com/PDMx9nZWvw

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28, 2019

CNN: Dogs have been in the military since 600 BC. And they do some serious work

(CNN)This week, President Donald Trump shared a declassified photo of a military working dog that was injured during the weekend raid that took down ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria.

Although details about the K-9 aren't public -- the Pentagon has said the dog's name needs to remain classified due to their affiliation with a classified unit -- it's a welcome reminder that military working dogs are an important and ever-present thread throughout America's military history.

In fact, dogs have been assisting military efforts all over the world for thousands of years. Here are some other things you may not know about these highly-trained canines.

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Update #1: Canines in combat (DW)
Update #2: Military working dogs like the one who chased down ISIS's leader always outrank their handlers. Here's why. (Business Insider)
Update #3: 9 ways that militaries use dogs for dangerous missions (Business Insider)

WNU Editor: For those who may not know. I have always loved dogs.

Report: U.S. Army Are Mistreating Retired Service Dogs

U.S. soldiers with the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team 3-1 CAV take a break with their explosives sniffer dog during a major search operation for weapons and insurgents, in a brickyard near the city of Narhwan, about 30km (18 miles) west of Baghdad October 12, 2007. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo

Reuters: Canine war heroes mistreated by U.S. Army: Pentagon report

(Reuters) - They made up a corps of bomb-sniffing dogs that accompanied brigade combat teams on potentially lethal missions, sniffing out roadside bombs in Afghanistan and saving human lives.

In return for their combat service, the U.S. Army mistreated these canine heroes when they were discharged from the military, the Defense Department’s Inspector General’s Office said in a report issued on March 1.

An investigation was started after soldiers who had handled the dogs complained about the fate of their four-legged saviors.

Army personnel who handled them said that once the dogs returned to the United States, some were left in kennels for up to 11 months, mistreated through lack of care and attention, and others may have been put down, according to the report. No screening was done of people who wanted to adopt the dogs.

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Update: Inspector general: Army mistreated retired service dogs (The Hill)

WNU Editor: I love dogs. This story makes my blood boil.

Video Of The Day

WNU Editor: From the DOD .... Just like human warriors, military working dogs need care on and off the battlefield. The Military Working Dog Hospital at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is the Defense Department’s premier facility for veterinary care.

Military Dogs Are In High Demand

Bloomberg: The Dogs of War Are in High Demand

After sending hundreds of canines to post Sept. 11 battlefields, the Pentagon is buying robot pooches to help train medics.

War is hell for almost everyone who gets near it. This includes animals—especially the hundreds of dogs the U.S. military has sent to serve alongside soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere since Sept. 11. Now, the Pentagon is taking steps to make sure more of them come home.

The armed services have had dogs since about day one. At the moment, roughly 1,600 Military War Dogs (MWDs) are either in the field or helping recuperating veterans. That’s approximately one dog for every three U.S. soldiers currently in Afghanistan.

These animals are, however, an increasingly precious resource. With terrorists targeting public transportation and tourist sites all over the world, global demand for bomb-sniffing dogs has surged. Canines with finely trained noses now fetch $25,000 and up on the open market, where border patrol units, the State Department, and private security firms go for canine talent. Even the war on bedbugs scoops up some of the best noses in the business. And that’s just U.S. demand.

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WNU editor: Dogs give unconditional love,loyalty, and are always willing to please their handlers. So yes .... a trained dog with a keen sense of smell will be in high demand.

A Soldier Talks About His Experiences With His K-9 Dogs

Robert Vrabel

Robert Vrabel, Popular Mechanics: The K9 Units Who Saved My Life, and Yours

On bases at home and overseas, K-9 units help to keep civilians and military personnel safe. An ex-Army cop recounts five loyal partners with whom he served.

NERO

Dutch shepherd. Sweet dog. He was seven years and twelve handlers into the job, a lifetime in the K-9 patrol business. Me, I was two fresh weeks out of the schoolhouse, the Military Working Dog Handler Course. I chose him from the lot at Fort Bragg Kennels—three unassigned patrol dogs, the other two younger and probably faster and stronger. But I picked Nero. I just liked him. His eyes sparkled.

Patrol dogs are trained to search for people attempting to elude the military police, whom they will then attack. Nero's record showed he'd had two justified bites in his career. That was good. Not all dogs can step up. Some become so accustomed to the practice stuff—the burlap sleeve, the bite suit—that when it comes time to bite flesh, they become confused. But Nero was sharp. Within two months, we passed the Army certification test as a team and were patrolling the streets of Fort Bragg the next night: 163,000 acres, 41,000 active-duty soldiers, and tens of thousands of civilian employees, contractors, and family members. Me and Nero. Lots of long nights, most of them quiet. You get a feel for a dog walking him like that, with a shared purpose.

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WNU Editor: How can you not love a dog that looks like that (above photo).

A Dog And His Handler Till The End

Via Facebook

Inspire: Grieving Soldier Refuses To Leave Dog’s Side, Honors Loyal Service In Sweetest Way

Bodza the German Shepherd started his career as a bomb sniffing K-9 in 2006. The energetic, goofy pup saved hundreds of US soldiers from IEDs in Iraq, Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait. Six years after his first tour Bodza met his new handler, Kyle Smith, and the two became fast friends.

Smith and Bozda spent 189 bitterly cold days and nights together as their friendship grew into a lifelong bond that couldn’t be broken.

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Update: Soldier Drapes American Flag Over Former Military Dog (KSAT)

WNU Editor: This is something that all dog owners unfortunately must experience at the end.

Conan O'Brien vs. A Military Dog. Who Wins?

Air Force Times: Conan O'Brien ends up on the wrong side of an Air Force dog

Comedian and talk show host Conan O'Brien had several adventures with airmen last year when he took a trip to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. And this week, one of those Mission Conan videos is getting another look from airmen. Conan's Facebook page and Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James re-posted this hilarious clip of Conan learning about military working dogs — and even ending up in the jaws of one.

"I've done stupid things in 22 years in television, but this is maybe at the top of the list," Conan declared before going toe-to-toe with the dog, Astor.

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WNU Editor: This is hilarious. If you cannot see this video because of the country you are in, there is a shorter version here (at the 0:25 mark).

Why is The U.S. Army 'Dumping' Hundreds Of Its War Dogs

New York Post: Troops betrayed as Army dumps hundreds of heroic war dogs

By now, Daniel had been in Afghanistan two months. It was July 2012, his third tour of duty and his first with Oogie, his military working dog. They were leading their platoon on yet another patrol, clearing a no-name village with maybe 15 houses and one mosque, when they began taking fire.

“The first thing that went though my mind,” he says, “was, ‘S- -t. My dog’s gonna get shot.’ ”

It was a perfect L-shaped ambush, bullets coming from the front and the right, the platoon pinned down in a flat, open landscape. Along the road were shallow trenches, no more than 14 inches deep. Daniel grabbed ­Oogie, squeezed him in a hole, then threw himself over his dog.

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Update: Soldiers devastated; K9 war partners reportedly confiscated without chance to adopt (BizPac Review).

WNU Editor: This is not right.

Why Does The Pentagon Have A 'Puppy Project'?

Pentagon 'puppy project' scientist defends work as research, not waste: https://t.co/H6JGF8OPrP pic.twitter.com/jVieg4nbDr

— ArmyTimes (@ArmyTimes) February 6, 2016

Military Times: Pentagon 'puppy project' scientist defends work as research, not waste

Gregory Berns bristles at critics attacking his $1.1 million “Pentagon puppy project” research as wasteful and frivolous.

For starters, none of his dogs are puppies. “All of the dogs we use are older,” the Emory University neuroscientist notes. “We can’t work with puppies.”

More importantly, he believes his work studying canine brain patterns from his base in Atlanta could save millions in training and program costs nationwide, dramatically improving the lives of troops and wounded veterans who rely on the service animals’ specialized skills.

Instead, the research has been grouped into the latest Capitol Hill hit list of unchecked federal spending, a frustrating distraction for his efforts, he says.

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WNU Editor: This project actually makes sense. Some dogs are far better suited to perform certain tasks .... while other dogs are not. Border Collies are great sheep dogs, Rottweillers are great security dogs for a home, and for the military .... the Belgian Malinois has taken a prominent role. What makes them all tick (besides genetics) .... is probably something that should be looked  .... especially considering how expensive it is to train a dog.

How Do You Train A Dog To Sniff-Out Bombs

Photo credit: Sgt. Joshua LaPere for the U.S. Army

Priceonomics: How Do You Train a Dog to Sniff Bombs?

To a well-trained dog, nothing is more exciting than finding a bomb.

When Lucca, a German shepherd–Belgian Malinois mix, smelled explosives in the Nahri Saraj District of Afghanistan in March 2012, her tail started wagging. She looked toward her handler, Marine Corporal Juan Rodriguez. He patted her side and said in a singsong voice, “Good girl, Lucca!” before alerting his unit that Lucca had found a hidden improvised explosive device.

The thirteen-year war in Afghanistan was the longest in American history. The Iraq War lasted another eight, and America’s involvement in both countries has not truly ended.

In both cases, American troops faced insurgents whose most lethal weapon was the improvised explosive device (IED): explosives rigged to radio transmitters, timers, or motion sensors (stripped from washing machines, security floodlights, and garage openers) and buried along routes taken by American patrols.

The Department of Defense spent $19 billion researching the best way to detect IEDs before settling on an old technology: dogs. Lucca was one of over 2,500 dogs trained to associate the scent of explosives with a reward, teamed up with a soldier-handler, and sent to Afghanistan or Iraq.

Read more ....

CWNU Editor: So typical of the Pentagon .... after spending billions they then go back to what always worked before .... in the case of finding bombs .... dogs. But having said that ... this is a fascinating read.

Trained Dogs Can Help In Treating Veterans With PTSD

NPR: Veterans Say Trained Dogs Help With PTSD, But The VA Won't Pay

At a warehouse near Dallas, a black Lab named Papi tugs on a rope to open a fridge and passes his trainer a plastic water bottle with his mouth.

Service dogs are often trained to help veterans with physical disabilities. Now, a growing number are being trained to meet the demand from vets with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

Those dogs learn extra tricks — how to sweep a house for intruders, for example, so a veteran feels safe.

"We teach them something called perimeter, where they go into the house and they check, they just touch all the doors and all the windows," says Cheryl Woolnough, training director at Patriot PAWS, a nonprofit in Rockwall, Texas, that provides service dogs.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Everyone who has had a dog in his or her life knows how much of a support they can be during difficult times. But for veterans who are suffering PTSD .... their needs are different, and this is where a trained dog can provide a valuable service. Unfortunately .... dollars and cents are the priority here, and not taking of care of the patient.