Minister’s bid to save ‘hero’ army dogs from being put down

Two “hero” retired army dogs who face being put down because they cannot be rehomed must be reprieved, a minister has said.

Sir Alan Duncan has intervened in a bid to save Kevin and Dazz, reported to have served in Afghanistan by working with troops to locate explosives in Helmand Province, by writing to Ministry of Defence (MoD) ministerial colleagues.

The Belgian shepherds are due to face lethal injections next week, but former soldiers and handlers have called for the decision to be reversed. They wrote to the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire – where the dogs have been working with trainees since being retired – to save them.

Foreign Office minister Sir Alan represents the constituency where the centre is based and has spoken with a dog handler involved with the campaign.

He has been told letters of support offering homes to the dogs have been rejected.

Sir Alan said: “These are hero dogs who fought fearlessly alongside our soldiers. Let us now be the ones to fight for them and give them a chance to live happy lives where they can thrive.

An MoD spokesman said: “Wherever possible, we endeavour to rehome them (dogs) at the end of their service life.

“Sadly, there are some occasions where this is not possible.”