24 Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Killed In Kuwait By American Company

Twenty-four dogs, all deceased and piled in a narrow corridor in a mass of fur and paws, have been photographed, and the image is going viral on the internet.

The dogs, who were all trained to sniff out explosives, had been massacred on the grounds of a U.S. security company in Kuwait, according to a story by the New York Post.

US security company ‘killed dozens of bomb sniffer dogs’ after contract ended https://t.co/MTzFDcudef pic.twitter.com/tADuj7IS7w

— Animals1st (@Animals1st) June 25, 2016

Kuwait Animal Rescue Unit circulated the photograph and called their killing by Eastern Securities of Kuwait a “horrifying animal abuse/massacre.”

There are conflicting stories about why the dogs were killed, according to the New York Daily News. KNPC claimed that it had nothing to do with the slaughter, but said that the dogs had failed a third-party test of their ability to sniff out bombs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iUxl-75PKI&spfreload=10

But the Instagram photo by the animal rescue said it was due to the company’s contract being revoked.

“They slaughtered 24 of their US K9 dogs whom were trained by USK9 dog training facility which is located in Louisiana, USA.

“This security company is an American company which worked with Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC). KNPC paid 3000KD (equivalent of $9,900)/month to the security company for each dog.”

However, an employee of Eastern Securities said that the dogs were humanely destroyed because they were elderly and suffering from various problems such as tumors and hip dysplasia.

Amy Swope, an American who worked for Eastern Securities in Kuwait from July to November of 2014, said that the dogs were mistreated.

“A lot of them were underfed, had eye and skin infections, lesions, bacterial infections, diarrhea, and cancerous growths. One dog had uterine cancer so bad I begged them to euthanize her.”

Swope says the company refused, and kept the cancer-stricken dog working until she died.

Despite the high monthly income the dogs brought in, Swope said the company had problems with creditors.

“I had two emergency cases that I took to a local vet. They said, ‘We won’t treat these dogs; your company doesn’t pay.’ I ended up using petty cash.”

Swope says she confronted CEO Bill Baisey, who also goes by the name Fathalla Balbeil, when she learned that employees from India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Uganda had their passports confiscated and were stranded in Kuwait. Swope says she herself was never issued a work visa.

“He said, ‘We have photos of men coming in and out of your apartment. That’s illegal in Kuwait. You’ll be thrown in jail. Leave it alone.'”

Swope left Kuwait soon afterward. When she saw the photos of the dead dogs, she said she was sure the company had killed them to cut costs.

US-owned security firm slaughters 24 bomb-sniffing dogs after losing Kuwait oil company contracthttps://t.co/HaYHFJf0G2
— RT (@RT_com) June 25, 2016

Baisey denies any involvement in the death of the dogs, according to the New York Post.

The story of the bomb detection dogs is rife with details such as confinement to small cages, not enough food, hot water collected from the roof, handlers kicking and beating the animals, and sick dogs being treated with medicine for pigs.

Hired by Eastern Securities as a veterinarian in July of 2013, Branko Przar had no medical training.

“I couldn’t do surgeries. I’m not a university degree vet. I just went to high school.”

Przar said he found himself in charge of 151 dogs, and was paid $1,100 per month. He said they wouldn’t give him antibiotics to treat any sick animals.

He said he had a meeting with Baisey to address the abuse.

“They said they didn’t know anything about that. I told him to his face that there was a problem with the dogs, that two of the dogs died in the last 10 days. He said he didn’t know anything about that.”

Baisey says the killing of the dogs is part of a conspiracy.

“We believe that certain people in the States are involved. Someone in Louisiana. He’s been trying so hard to steal the contract. What you’re hearing, it’s people looking to ruin the company name.”

As of Friday afternoon, the New York Post said the remaining dogs on Eastern Securities site were in the care of the Kuwaiti government.

[Image via Kart31/Shutterstock]