Soldiers campaign for an honourable discharge for ‘overworked’ mascot
SOLDIERS are campaigning for their beloved mascot dog to be retired, because he is allegedly “overworked”.
Slogans were sprayed on the walls of barracks because of the reported treatment of Domhnall, a six-year-old wolfhound. The Irish Guards say he should have been retired long ago, but is still being paraded and taken to meet dignitaries. The Duchess of Cambridge met the animal on St Patrick’s Day this year.
“Justice 4 Domhnall” has been spraypainted on the walls of barracks in Hounslow, west London, and insiders explained it is because there are fears the hound is too old to work. He has a “dodgy hip”, soldiers say. “The lads love that dog. But Domhnall has problems with his health,” an insider told The Sun. “People are saying the dog is being overworked constantly. He was meant to be retired a long time ago, he’s not well, but is being worked to his death bed.”
Irish wolfhounds typically live until they are around seven. The Army has said the dog was declared fit to work by vets, and said the graffiti was daubed by well-meaning soldiers unaware of the animal’s real condition.
A spokesman said: “Domhnall has regular health checks – including two this week – to ensure he is being well looked after and is fit for service.”