Mismanagement and lack of funding threaten Key Security Initiative
By: Eustoria Marie Borja
KOROR, Palau — Palau’s K-9 program, crucial for enhancing border security and combating drug trafficking, is once again facing significant challenges due to persistent management issues. Despite improvements in 2023, the program remains in a precarious state, with concerns about the long-term care and health of the remaining military working dogs.
Established in 2020 with financial support from the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the program initially brought eight military working dogs to Palau to assist the Narcotics Enforcement Agency (NEA) and the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. However, after U.S. support ended in 2021, the program quickly deteriorated. A lack of veterinary care, proper nutrition, and effective management led to widespread concern.
Dr. Kristen Decina Singeo, a licensed veterinarian who was instrumental in bringing the dogs to Palau, has been a strong advocate for their care. She emphasized that the dogs require specialized veterinary care, which includes regular blood work and access to X-ray machines. Dr. Singeo’s tenure involved caring for the dogs for one year and three months, during which she repeatedly requested a long-term plan for the dogs, knowing that the initial U.S. support would end in 2021. Dr. Singeo remains concerned about the lack of proper veterinary care, which is crucial for maintaining the health of these high-value assets, worth between $20,000 and $35,000 each.
Adding to the complexity, a veterinarian, Amber Hinson, was contracted to assess the dogs but was only present for one week every quarter, totaling just 4 visits. Hinson was not allowed to treat the dogs and lacked the necessary supplies, limiting her role to assessments rather than providing the comprehensive care that was needed.
The ongoing issues with the program can be traced back to poor planning and mismanagement. Despite the initial promise of the K-9 program, the lack of a sustainable, long-term plan for the dogs’ care has left the program’s future uncertain. President Surangel Whipps Jr. has acknowledged these challenges, emphasizing the need to learn from past mistakes during Keiko’s memorial service after she passed away. However, without any form of action and proper allocation of resources, the future of Palau’s K-9 program remains in jeopardy.
Efforts to reach current BPS Director Cary Levitre for comment were unsuccessful. As Palau continues to grapple with these challenges, the health and well-being of the remaining military working dogs hang in the balance, requiring urgent attention to ensure their survival and effectiveness in safeguarding the nation.