Four military dogs died after being housed in poor living conditions at military kennels between 2021 and 2023.
A new Pentagon watchdog report revealed concerning kennel conditions across 12 military bases.
Lack of funding prioritization for kennels has led to shoddy facilities and a lack of staff.Four military working dogs died between 2021 and 2023 after being housed in deteriorating kennels, according to a new Pentagon watchdog report. Dozens of others suffered injuries or disease or showed signs of severe stress.
The report from the Defense Department’s Inspector General’s office, released Thursday, revealed failures to protect dogs from extreme weather, a lack of canine engagement, staffing shortages, and widespread facility decay across 12 base kennels.
Military working dogs play important roles in explosive detection and security missions, making their health a readiness issue as well as an animal welfare concern.
Investigators reported deficiencies across all bases they assessed, but the most serious lapses in health and welfare were at the Air Force’s 341st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, the military’s de facto canine program headquarters, which oversees the acquisition and basic training for all military dogs.
None of the 230 dogs at the facility received the five hours of daily play and engagement required by military policy. Instead, they were walked three or four times a week for about 10 minutes, spending most of their time confined to small kennels. Nearly two dozen at the base suffered heat injuries. Investigators observed widespread stress behaviors, including repetitive spinning in tight circles and chewing on metal bowls.