Dozens of contracted working dogs have been abandoned by the US in Afghanistan, along with up to 200 civilians and military equipment.
An animal welfare group has condemned the ‘death sentence’ for the animals who now face ‘torture’ by the Taliban.
American Humane has called on Congress to rescue the purpose-trained dogs who perform a wide range of duties and work alongside military dogs.
Dozens of contracted working dogs have been abandoned by the US in Afghanistan after the troop withdrawal
Afghan Air Force’s A-29 attack aircraft and armoured vests are left on the ground inside a hangar at the airport in Kabul
The organization’s CEO Robin R. Ganzert said in a statement: ‘I am devastated by reports that the American government is pulling out of Kabul and leaving behind brave US military contract working dogs to be tortured and killed at the hand of our enemies.
‘These brave dogs do the same dangerous, lifesaving work as our military working dogs, and deserved a far better fate than the one to which they have been condemned.
‘This senseless fate is made all the more tragic, as American Humane stands ready to not only help transport these contract K-9 soldiers to US soil but also to provide for their lifetime medical care.’
American Humane has worked with the military for more than a century to rescue stranded military animals, having previously worked in World War One.
The US has also abandoned as much as 70 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, 27 Humvees and 73 aircraft in Afghanistan
Taliban fighters sit in the cockpit of an Afghan Air Force aircraft at the airport in Kabul in the hours following the US departure
Ganzert added: ‘As the country’s first national humane organization and largest certifier of animal welfare in the world, it sickens us to sit idly by and watch these brave dogs who valiantly served our country be put to death or worse.
‘In order to prevent this tragedy from occurring, these K-9’s should be loaded into whatever cargo space remains and flown to safety.
‘Irrespective of the outcome, this gross oversight of justice must be stopped from happening again, as it did in Vietnam too.
‘To that end, we call on Congress to take action to classify contract working dogs on the same level as military working dogs. Failure to do anything less, is a failure of humanity and a condemnation of us all.’
Sharing photos of dogs in cages stranded in Kabul, one person commented: ‘Not a great day for America’s service dogs that are still in the airport.’
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid (centre) spaks to the media in the shadow of a plane which the terror group have seized
Along with the dogs, there are up to 200 US citizens still in Afghanistan after the US withdrew its final troops, bringing an end to the 20-year campaign.
Critics slammed Biden for breaking his promise to stay until all citizens were airlifted to safety after he pulled out the last forces 24 hours before the August 31 deadline.
The US has also abandoned as much as 70 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, 27 Humvees and 73 aircraft in Afghanistan, although much of the equipment has been disabled.
Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said the aircraft were ‘demilitarised,’ or rendered useless, before American troops wrapped up the two-week evacuation.
Taliban fighters stand guard at the Hamid Karzai International Airport after US troops departed following a 20-year campaign in Afghanistan
The XVIII Airborne Corps released an image Monday of the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan – Major General Chris Donahue, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division
He said the Pentagon, which built up a force of nearly 6,000 troops to occupy and operate Kabul’s airport when the airlift began on August 14, left behind around 70 MRAP armoured tactical vehicles – which can cost up to $1 million a piece – that it disabled before leaving, and 27 Humvees.
Before the last US troops left, they disabled scores of aircraft and armoured vehicles – as well as a high-tech rocket defence system – at the airport, a US general said.
Cockpit windows had been shattered, instrument panels smashed, and aircraft tyres shot out.
The US also left behind but disabled the C-RAM system – counter rocket, artillery, and mortar – that was used to protect the airport from rocket attacks.
The system helped fend off a five-rocket barrage from the jihadist Islamic State group on Monday.