WATCH: Taliban Make Hostage Video Of Kidnapped Military Dog

Ed Mazza
Updated

A British military dog has been captured by the Taliban and appears in a newly released hostage video.

The dog, named Colonel, was apparently taken during a raid in Afghanistan's eastern Laghman province on Dec. 23, the Daily Telegraph reports.

In the video, bearded Taliban fighters shout "Allah gave victory to the mujahideen!” and “Down with them, down with their spies" as Colonel is shown on a leash held by one of the fighters, according to the Washington Post.

Colonel, still in his military harness, sniffs around and occasionally runs about as far as his leash will allow him.

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The canine POW even wags his tail a few times.

The militants in the video say that the dog had a flashlight and a GPS around his neck. The Washington Post reports the fighters also show off what appear to be captured M-4 assault rifles, which are favored by special forces.

Colonel is a Belgian Malinois. PawNation says they're intelligent and protective, and the breed has surpassed the German Shepherd in popularity for police work.

They're also especially popular with the military. In Afghanistan, these dogs are used to sniff for explosives, weapons and drugs as well as in search and rescue operations.

Lex

Though the government presented a number of obstacles, the family of fallen Marine Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee did whatever it took to adopt Lex, the military dog who served with their son in Iraq, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-768183" target="_hplink">CNN reports.</a> Before Lex passed away in March, he offered therapy to wounded soldiers and a way for Lee's mom to tell her son's story, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-768183" target="_hplink">a mission, she says, she will not give up.</a>

Rex

After completing more than 100 missions with her beloved German shepard, Rex, former Marine Cpl. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117461/Reunited-The-Iraq-hero-allowed-adopt-death-row-dog-year-battler-ownership.html" target="_hplink">Megan Leavey, 28, was determined to adopt her military dog</a>, the <em>Daily Mail</em> reports. The Rockport, NY., native campaigned for five years and finally got to take Rex home in March. "Rex is my partner," <a href="http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/09/10626495-marine-and-dog-bonded-by-war-divided-by-red-tape " target="_hplink">Leavey told MSNBC.</a> "I love him."

Cairo

The only member of the Navy SEAL team involved in the assassination of Osama bin Laden to be revealed, <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/obama_hero_seal_the_deal_DuqxG3k4YHFs0NCBrlgEDO" target="_hplink">Cairo -- a military dog -- played a critical role in the mission</a> by alerting the special forces teams to hidden threats, the <em>NY Post</em> reports.

Cooper

Cpl. Kory Wiens was so attached to Cooper, the military dog he worked with, that he planned to stay in the Army until the Labrador retriever's career was over and adopt him afterwards, the AP reports. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/28/colo-army-post-honors-sol_n_1063387.html" target="_hplink">The two were killed by an improvised bomb in 2007</a> and were buried together in Wiens' Dallas, Ore., hometown.

MWD Beyco

While stationed in Fallujah in 2005, MWD Beyco conducted improvised explosive device searches, route clearance sweeps and searches of buildings and vehicles. <a href="http://www.herodogawards.org/vote/?nominee=47436615" target="_hplink">MWD Beyco earned a Combat Action Ribbon</a> and was nominated for the American Humane Association's Hero Dog Awards in October.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.