WASHINGTON — A report finds that the Army failed to do right by some of the more than 200 bomb-sniffing dogs that served with U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, detecting roadside bombs and saving lives.

The Defense Department’s inspector general has determined that, after the program ended in 2014, some soldiers struggled or were unable to adopt the dogs they had handled.

What it's really like to be a dog handler in the US military
What it's really like to be a dog handler in the US military

Handlers talk training, fitness, and whether movies and media match real-life experiences.

By: Ashley Bunch

This included two dogs among 13 that were given to a private company to be used as service dogs for veterans but then abandoned at a Virginia kennel.

The report says Congress amended the law in 2015 to give handlers top priority in adopting their dogs.

Airman drapes flag over military working dog's body after he’s put to sleep
Airman drapes flag over military working dog's body after he’s put to sleep

When Bodza, an 11-year-old military working dog was put down last week due to health complications, his owner and former handler Kyle Smith draped an American flag over him in recognition of his service, reports Inside Edition.

By: Mackenzie Wolf

The inspector general also faults the military for not properly screening those adopting the dogs, including law enforcement agencies and private individuals.