In what a local animal rescue group called a "horrifying animal massacre," 24 bomb-sniffing dogs that had been trained in the U.S. were euthanized June 17 by a private contractor in Kuwait.
Disturbing photos posted on Instagram show the dogs' bodies piled outside their kennels at Eastern Securities of Kuwait, whose CEO is Bill Baisey, a U.S. citizen.
An employee told the Arab Times the dogs were killed because they were old or sickly.
But a former employee believes they were killed after the Kuwait National Petroleum Company, which was employing the dogs to detect explosives at its oil-drilling sites, revoked its contract when the dogs failed to pass explosives detection tests.
There's another reason why the dogs may have been killed -- and if it's true, it's reprehensible.
Local animal activist Mimi Mamoun told the Kuwait Times that a friend who handles the dogs at Eastern Securities said they were not killed because they were sick, but as revenge, to punish handlers who filed complaints with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor because they haven't received a paycheck since April.
Please add your voice to those of Mimi and other animal activists demanding that criminal charges be brought against Bill Baisey for this unnecessary, heartless massacre. Sign and share this petition so no more dogs have to suffer.
Dear Chief of Mina Abdullah Police,
As someone concerned about animal welfare, I am writing to you about the deaths of 24 bomb-sniffing dogs at Eastern Securities of Kuwait on June 17, 2016.
Eastern Securities says the dogs were killed because they were old or sick, but one of their handlers said they were killed as revenge, to punish handlers who have filed complaints at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for nonpayment of their salaries.
If this is true, the killings were "a gross and vile act against defenseless animals," as Roger Abshire, CEO of USK9 Unlimited in Louisiana, which trained the dogs, called it.
The culling of these dogs is inexcusable. Bill Baisey, the CEO of Eastern Securities of Kuwait, should be charged with animal cruelty. Please show the world that a massacre of highly trained dogs will not be tolerated.
Sincerely,
