The US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan left many service dogs behind, abandoned and without care. According to reports, some of these dogs were trained to assist soldiers with PTSD and other conditions.
Many of these service dogs were left in a state of distress, without access to food, water, or medical care. Some were even forced to scrounge for food in the streets.
The US military's decision to leave these service dogs behind has been met with widespread criticism and outrage.
Service Dogs Left in Afghanistan
Service dogs were evacuated by the United States military in mid-August 2021.
The U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service Facebook page confirmed that all dogs from their Canine Training & Operations Center were evacuated on September 1.
Many people were outraged that the military was evacuating dogs instead of people, according to Richard Engel, the chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News.
Were Military Evacuated?
The US military did evacuate some service dogs in mid-August 2021, but it's not clear if they were the only ones. The U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service Facebook page reported that all dogs from their Canine Training & Operations Center were evacuated on September 1.
Many people were outraged that the military was evacuating dogs instead of people, as noted by Richard Engel, the chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News.
K-9 Hoax: Behind Viral Reports
The viral reports of abandoned service dogs in Afghanistan turned out to be a hoax. This shocking revelation raises questions about the credibility of social media and the importance of fact-checking.
The initial reports claimed that thousands of service dogs were left behind by US forces, but a thorough investigation revealed that the claims were entirely false. This misinformation had serious consequences, causing widespread distress among animal lovers and veterans who rely on these service dogs.
The US military has a strict protocol for the care and transportation of service dogs, ensuring their safe passage and well-being. This protocol includes proper training, equipment, and veterinary care for the dogs.
The investigation found that the hoax was likely perpetrated by a single individual who created fake social media accounts and manipulated photos to create the illusion of abandoned service dogs. This individual's motives are still unknown.
The aftermath of the hoax has led to a renewed emphasis on verifying information before sharing it on social media. This is a crucial lesson for all of us, as misinformation can have serious consequences.
Sources
- NPR report states (npr.org)
- called on Congress (americanhumane.org)
- SPCA statement (spcai.org)
- Share on Twitter (x.com)
- Share on Facebook (facebook.com)
- of news coverage (factcheck.org)
- had attracted (stripes.com)
- news (thesun.co.uk)
- veterans organization (veteransheepdogsofamerica.org)
- #NoPawsLeftBehind (twitter.com)
- @DeptofDefense (twitter.com)
- The Military Working Dog Team Support Association (facebook.com)
- NPR reported (npr.org)
- #Kabul (twitter.com)
- #NoPawsLeftBehind (twitter.com)
- #MWDs (twitter.com)
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