Paws to honour the dogs of war

Honour the daredevil dogs, heroic horses, and plucky pigeons lost in war this Remembrance Sunday – with a purple poppy.

Many millions of animals have died in battle over the years – an estimated eight million horses and donkeys died in the First World War alone.

Dogs have been used in conflicts as lookouts, messengers, watchdogs and carriers of ammunition and first aid.

And soldiers who worked with them often relied on charities such as the Blue Cross, which is selling the poppies, to care for animals wounded in action.

Blue Cross chief Julia McKechnie-Burke said: “We’re extremely proud of our heritage from working to save animals in war over 100 years ago. But we’re equally as proud of the help we offer today for thousands of pets who need us.”

Donations to the Purple Poppy Appeal, organised by the War Horse Memorial, also go to charities such as World Horse Welfare. The target is £125,000 this year.

But Blue Cross has also played a pivotal historical role by helping horses that were sent to fight in horrendous conditions.

First known as Our Dumb Friends League, the charity set up The Blue Cross Fund to help during the 1912 Balkan War.

But its work really came into play during the First World War when it set up a number of hospitals in France and Italy to help war horses and other animals.

By the end of the war, more than 50,000 horses had been treated in France and veterinary supplies were gratefully received by the British Army. Many letters of thanks were sent back from the front.

From 1917 the charity took care of 18,000 war dogs used by the French army – such as Monti, a regimental pet dog who had saved the lives of two soldiers on the infamous Gallipoli peninsular.

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A sergeant had offered to look after Monti when they returned but as he could not afford to pay four months’ quarantine fees, Blue Cross stepped in to help.

Blue Cross is selling the purple poppy pin badges nationwide in its high street shops and across its hospitals, clinics and rehoming centres to remember animals lost in war, but also to help raise money for today’s pets. And the poppies will still be on sale after today.

War Horse Memorial is concentrating on its network of organisations, schools and supporters across the UK.

REUNITED Serviceman with his dog