KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (AP) – The United States troop surge in Afghanistan has led to a dog surge – and unexpected problems in procuring high-quality dog food with enough protein and nutrients for hundreds of canines used to find explosives and perform other energy-intensive missions.

Along with about 37,000 US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops, the number of military working dogs being brought into the country to search for mines, explosives and to accompany soldiers on patrol is increasing substantially, according to Nick Guidas, the American K-9 project manager for Afghanistan.

Guidas, a civilian contractor who primarily oversees dog operations in southern Afghanistan, said he has 50 dogs on operational teams and about 20 more awaiting missions. He expects that number to go up to 219 by July.

“It may go as high as 315 dogs in Afghanistan,” he said at a crowded kennel full of highly trained German and Dutch Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Labradors on this air base, the hub of US and international security forces’ operations in the volatile Kandahar area.

“Because of the surge there is more need for working dogs. But one of my main problems is getting dog food,” he said. “It’s hard to convince people sometimes that it’s a priority, but it’s a necessity if we are to keep these dogs working.”