Remembering The War Dogs
Man’s Best Friend During the War
Prior to 1914, wars had mainly been fought by cavalries. But from World War 1, Dogs started playing vital roles.
A third of dogs deployed to WW1 were actually family pets. The dogs were given a variety of life saving jobs, depending on their size, intelligence and training. Roles included sentry, scout, casualty, explosive, haulage of equipment, ratters and mascot dogs.
Sentry dogs
These dogs were trained to growl or bark when they sensed a stranger in the area or close to camp.
Casualty dogs
Casualty dogs searched for wounded or dying soldiers on the battlefield and carried medical equipment. They would stay beside a dying soldier so he wouldn’t be alone.
Scout dogs
Scout dogs went foot patrolling with soldiers. They detected enemy scent up to 1000 yards away and alerted the handler with silent signals.
Messenger dogs
Messenger dogs had the dangerous job of carrying messages to provide field and trench communication. A trained dog was faster than a human runner, was less of a target and could travel over most terrain.
Mascot dogs
For those experiencing the horrors of trench warfare, a mascot dog in the trenches was a psychological comfort that reminded them of home comforts and provided companionship.
Helping the animals of The First World War.
The Blue Cross sent ambulances and veterinary equipment when supplies were scarce. One ambulance was even sent all the way to Egypt after the King had inspected it at Buckingham Palace. The Blue Cross extended aid to French, Italian and USA armies.
After the armistice, the cost of transporting and quarantining the dogs proved problematic due to the high cost implications. The charity stepped in again and funded the costs and opened quarantine kennels so soldiers could bring back the dogs that loyally served them on the battlefields.
Helping the Pets of The Second World War.
During the Second World War, the Blue Cross continued to treat sick and injured pets. The quarantine kennels were again used to provide shelter for the pets of European refugees during the six month quarantine period. They also looked after animals belonging to servicemen and women who could not afford private kennelling costs. When they came home on leave, owners could visit their pets and have a joyful reunion when the war ended.
Military dogs of the Present Day
To this day, working dogs are used by military forces globally, including the UK for protection and scenting. Military working dogs continue to provide an invaluable service to our troops where they save the lives of soldiers and the public.
Sadly, when military dogs are no longer needed, they face an uncertain future. Figures released by the Ministry of Defence in 2017 revealed that the Army was euthanising former serving dogs, some who had risked their lives protecting people and sniffing out explosives. The Hero Paws Charity is trying to change this and help as many dogs as they can to find a home after they have retired from their service.
We will remember them.
In memory of serving dogs, past and present, here are a few Harbour Tails dog walking clients wearing their poppies proudly in remembrance.
