JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Joint Base Charleston hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19, 2026, officially unveiling the state-of-the-art military working dog kennel facility, marking a significant investment in enhancing the well-being and mission readiness of the military working dogs and their handlers.
The project began November 2023 and was completed December 2025 with a total investment of $3.2 billion dollars in upgrades.
The renovated facility has built-in housing to increase capacity by two military working dogs, sound-dampening panels to reduce kennel anxiety, angled chain-link fencing that prevents visual agitation, epoxy flooring to minimize moisture and skin-related issues and an expanded obedience yard to support enhanced training and enrichment. The new arrangement of the kennels aims to reduce agitation and anxiety, reducing the risk of behavioral issues and injury.
“Health is paramount with these dogs. They have enough room for enrichment to keep them happy and healthy,” said U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Kyle Titus, 628th Security Forces Squadron military working dog kennel master. “So far, we’ve had zero injuries in the new facility which has been great!”
Since the remodeling, the kennel handlers have observed the new layout fosters a healthier, safe and efficient environment for the military working dogs’ health, training and recovery.
“It was like a night and day difference that you could see in them and their behavior,” said Titus. “You can walk through the building now and the dogs will remain sleeping. We can definitely tell the difference in the dogs’ health and morale with this new facility.”
The military working dogs conduct extensive training to secure the installations’ strategic assets through actively detecting explosives, deterring potential threats and defending personnel.
“The Green Kennel initiative started about ten years ago, and the new facility reflects our overall goal to make a massive impact on the military working dogs’ health and wellness,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Reginald Conyers, 628th Security Forces Squadron military working dog trainer.
Looking ahead, the 628th SFS hopes the new facility will extend the working life of military working dogs while significantly reducing injuries and stress-related issues.
“We need to be doing our part as far as giving dogs ample time to get this energy out,” said Titus. “Providing longevity to their careers with better conditions and more space to move around is a big goal for us.”
The new facility supports the 628th SFS and its military working dogs’ readiness and capability to defend the mission every day, symbolizing the installation’s continued commitment to resilient infrastructure and operational excellence.
“The ceremony showcases that we’re going forward in the right direction in improving the life conservation of our military working dogs and making a massive impact for mission accomplishment,” said Conyers.