WASHINGTON — Animal welfare groups are calling for swift federal action after a new Department of Defense Inspector General report highlighted concerns about the housing and care of military working dogs at several U.S. military installations.
Animal Wellness Action, the Center for a Humane Economy, and the Animal Wellness Foundation are urging military officials to address issues outlined in a February 2026 report that examined conditions for military working dogs that are not currently assigned to training programs.
The Inspector General’s review evaluated installations in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, and California between April 2024 and September 2025.
The investigation followed earlier findings from an August 2024 visit to the Air Force’s 341st Training Readiness Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland in Texas, one of the military’s primary training centers for working dogs.
According to the report, inspectors identified multiple deficiencies in kennel facilities and animal care practices.
Among the concerns cited were open-air kennel areas lacking sufficient shelter from extreme weather, standing waste and contaminated water, and exposure to hazards including mold and debris.
Inspectors also documented disease outbreaks and high illness rates among dogs at some locations.
At one installation, up to 47% of dogs were reported sick, which the report suggested was likely tied to poor kennel conditions.
The report also linked four dog deaths from pneumonia to inadequate housing.
Other findings included limited opportunities for exercise, with some dogs receiving as little as 40 minutes of walking time per week, and a lack of environmental enrichment that could lead to behavioral stress.
Military officials attributed several of the challenges to aging facilities, a shortage of caretakers responsible for dog care, and the relatively low priority of kennel renovations within broader military construction plans.
Colonel Tom Pool (ret.), a veterinarian and former chief of the U.S. Army Veterinary Command, described the report as deeply troubling.
“Officers get relieved from duty when a report this damning is published,” Pool said. “Ignoring this will not be possible. These problems have been brewing for some time, and the IG report shows that they remain unresolved. This is unforgiveable mismanagement of critical and irreplaceable Defense assets.”
Kate Chupka Schultz, senior attorney for the Center for a Humane Economy and a former animal cruelty prosecutor, said the conditions described in the report could carry serious implications if they occurred outside of military facilities.
“This level of neglect, if committed by a civilian, could be considered a criminal offense under many states’ animal welfare laws,” Schultz said. “It is especially concerning because there are few to no legal avenues to make sure action is taken and the recommendations are implemented.”
The Inspector General recommended that military officials develop and implement a plan to upgrade kennel facilities to meet current Department of Defense standards.
The report also suggested temporarily reducing the number of non-training dogs at the 341st Training Squadron until additional caretakers can be hired.
Pool criticized that approach, arguing that reducing the number of dogs is not a practical solution.
“As for reducing dogs to match staffing, that is a simplistic and ill-considered response,” Pool said. “The military never has enough dogs, and often these dogs are highly bonded to their handler — they cannot simply be shifted elsewhere like pawns on a chessboard.”
The report notes that additional funding has been approved for fiscal year 2026 to support improvements to kennel facilities and expand caretaker staffing.
Animal welfare groups say they want those changes implemented quickly and are calling for stronger oversight to prevent similar issues from occurring again.
Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, said the findings raise broader questions about how the military treats animals that play a role in national defense.
“It is deeply distressing that these working dogs help to keep our country safe, yet they are neglected and treated like machines,” Pacelle said. “The DOD needs a reboot when it comes to the proper and humane treatment of its canine soldiers. To fall short of first-rate care is a betrayal of our responsibilities to animals who give their lives for America.”
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