The Founder Of Veteran Sheepdogs of America Has Stepped Up To Get the 51 Service Dogs Left Behind In Afghanistan Out
TMZ - As people continue to scramble to flee Afghanistan, so too are a number of four-legged allies ... and one guy's nonprofit is in desperate need of a major donor to make it happen.
His name's Joshua Hosler, President of Veteran Sheepdogs of America ... which is working frantically right now to help evacuate dozens of military dogs used by U.S. service members and others in and around Kabul, which don't seem to have many options for getting out.
He posted a TikTok video explaining the dire sitch -- with a photo of a ton of carrying crates in front of a chopper. Josh says this is just a fraction of the dogs left behind in the mass pull-out. There are military personnel on the ground that Josh is currently working with to coordinate a rescue, but the bottom line is ... he needs resources (like a 737 plane) which ain't cheap.
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Sounds like some active armed forces members are vouching for him online -- telling folks he isn't a fraudster or anything of the sort, and that he and his cause do, in fact, need all the help (and money) they can get ... thanking him for his sainthood in the process.
4:21 PM PT -- Joshua tells us they've reached the $1.4 million mark with two big donors to still come through, he's confident they'll hit their goal of $1.67 million.
10:19 AM PT -- We had Hosler on TMZ Live who tells us the group is essentially in the 11th hour, and desperate to raise the remaining funds and evacuate the dogs. If interested, you can donate here.
Chaps posted about this yesterday, along with his explanation on who these dogs were and why they were most likely abandoned.
Just a really fucked up cherry on top of one of the greatest fuck ups in U.S. history.
To the surprise of nobody that's been paying attention to this whole debacle, the administration is denying this entire thing-
Fox News - The Pentagon is denying reports that it left U.S. military service K-9s in Afghanistan after its Monday withdrawal from the country.
Photos posted to social media over the weekend appeared to show dogs in cages at the Kabul airport, and the nonprofit organization Veteran Sheepdogs of America said on Tuesday told TMZ it was continuing to help evacuate dozens of contracted military working dogs from the country.
"To correct erroneous reports, the U.S. Military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, including the reported military working dogs," DOD spokesman John Kirby said in a Tuesday statement. "Photos circulating online were animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, not dogs under our care."
Regardless, today there's actually some good news as this hero Joshua Hosler of Veteran Sheepdogs of America has stepped up and raised a shit load of money to get these dogs to safety. What a stud.
Joshua Hosler is from Jefferson, Ohio. Josh is a combat Marine veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan with over 700 combat missions as Assistant Platoon Leader and bomb dog handler. A husband and father of 3 children, Joshua knows first-hand the challenges of the military and the difficulties of transitioning from active service. His losses of those he served with in combat on the battle field and back at home to suicide, inspired him to lead Veteran Sheepdogs of America and truly hold the VA and the decision makers accountable for what was promised to and earned by our veterans. Joshua has served at different local political and federal and government positions. This knowledge of the federal and state policies and inner workings of government gives him an unique insight on how to hold the VA accountable.
Veteran Sheepdogs of America is a nonprofit organization that fills an empty and unique space in not just Colorado, but the nation. The plan will be focused on organizing and uniting veterans, giving them a loud and effective voice. Advocacy, especially when it comes to the VA and its service.
The veteran population has many resources for veteran services and advocacy, but not an organization that is hyper-political in working diligently on veteran issues, VA reform and accountability. VSC will be that organization.
$1.67 million raised in a couple days is incredibly impressive. It also speaks to how big of hearts Americans have and how much we love animals.