The Taliban recently released what some are calling one of the first instances of a dog featured in a prisoner of war video.
The video, which was posted to a jihadist website, shows a brown military working dog wearing a vest and surrounded by armed men. (Via Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan)
According to The Washington Post, the men in the video said the dog was captured in a firefight between U.S. and Taliban forces in the Laghman province of Afghanistan back in December.
The Post adds that the scopes on the rifles in the video are similar to those used by U.S. Special Operations forces in Afghanistan.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force confirmed in a statement that a dog went missing after an operation in December, but the dog in the video doesn't belong to the U.S. (Via CNN)
Instead, some outlets are claiming the dog, who the men in the video refer to as "Colonel," is linked to the British military. (Via BBC, The Telegraph)
An ABC correspondent suggests whoever the dog's handler is — American, British or otherwise — that person must be having a hard time.
"These dogs are trained to live and fight with their handlers ... This is like losing... It's literally like losing a brother on the battlefield."
While the video of the canine POW might be the first of its kind, National Geographic reports at least one other dog has actually been listed as a prisoner of war.
A British ship's dog named Judy was taken by the Japanese during World War II. Judy spent three years in prison camps, but was freed after the war. She was awarded the Dickin Medal for gallantry and had her barks broadcast on BBC. (Via Daily Mail)
There's no word on what the men in the video plan to do with the captured dog.
