11 November #Letusremember Animals in War

Charities helping animals who have served us in a military or police capacity.

In the UK
Thin Blue Paw Foundation
Police dogs get no help for veterinary needs after they retire.  Ther esponsiblity for their care and vet bills falls to their ex-handler or new owner.  The Foundation serves working and retired police dogs across the UK. It gives much needed financial support to over 200 canine heroes and their owners so that these wonderful dogs can have the long, happy retirement they deserve a long and happy retirement.   Meet some of the dogs here. 

Their Remembrance Paw campaign pays tribute to the life and service of all police dogs, in recognition of their unwavering dedication and bravery.  Their Remembrance Paw can be worn with your Royal British Legion Poppy.  

 
Get your Remembrance Paw from the Thin Blue Paw Foundation for £6 or £8
Image copyight to them.

The Horse Trust  
The Horse Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses has specialised in providing retirement and respite for working horses and ponies.  Many of them have served in the Police and the military such as William, who had served with the The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and Hyderabad who was with the Household Cavalry.  They looked after the five horses who bolted in Central London earlier this year, and also Urbane who was attacked by a dog.   Why not sponsor a resident to help?  Visit the Horse Trust.

In the US

Mission K9 Rescue is a non profit organization “dedicated to the service of retiring and retired Military Working Dogs, Contract Working Dogs and PD-K9’s”.  It is based in Texas, USA, and some of the dogs it is helping came from Kabul, where the military had allegedly  left them in cages at the airport when it left Afghanistan.   Thanks to Kabul Small Animal Rescue and an amazing effort by supporters and donors and charities, and a huge thanks to MissionK9 Rescue who took them on. Here they are on Facebook and on Instagram.

Obviously there are a lot of animal charities working hard in extremely difficult circumstances to help animals affected immediately by war.  Some will work in partnership with local animal rescues. 

This page is really about helping animals who have or who are serving us, and you'll see around this site there are lots of references to those helping animals in places such as:

In Gaza

Breaking the Chains (who are also working in Ukraine) where there is a severe shortage of food, medical supplies, and shelter. They are working with a rapidly changing situation, as you'll appreciate, but currently their aim is to establish pop-up clinics to treat sick and injured donkeys and horses, and to educate their owners on better care, feeding stations for cats and dogs throughout the strip, vet care and vaccinations, spay and neuter programmes and disease prevention and monitoring.  

Safe Haven for Donkeys help thousands of working donkeys in Israel and the Palestinian Territories (the West Bank).  Their sanctuary in Israel lgives life-long care to about 180 donkeys, there's a rescue centre in Arrana in the West Bank, and their three mobile clinics help many hundreds of working donkeys, mules and horses across the West Bank and we also have a permanent clinic in the Palestinian city of Nablus.  Right now, they urgently need our support to help animals in Gaza.   They also have a new project in Egypt.

In Ukraine - please click here

War Paws in Iraq
War Paws aims to alleviate pain and suffering of animals in hostile environments and civil conflict in Iraq.  Buy something from their shop – there are sponsorship gifts for instance or you can donate to their general fund and give towards food, vaccinations and veterinary care.  It is raising money to fund the building, manning, operating and protection of a mobile veterinary hospital in Iraq.  Find out more

In Afghanistan

Nowzad
Nowzad had the first animal rescue centre in Afghanistan and a horse/donkey sanctuary too.  You will probably have heard all about Nowzad in the news, as Pen Farthing worked to get all the cats and dogs and staff out of Afghanistan.  They are still operating in Afghanistan and helping animals in Ukraine as well. Find out more

Kabul Small Animal Rescue
The rescue has had an incredible journey in Kabul, Afghanistan.  After the Taliban took over, they still stayed and are operating to help dogs and cats and other animals.  In January 2021, they managed to get 284 dogs and cats out of Kabul on an aircraft to Vancouver - a truly incredible operation involving many very courageous people in a truly international effort.  Visit their website here and their Facebook page here

Animals in war in the past

Armistice Day - also known as Remembrance Day - gives us an opportunity to remember all those who gave their lives in war, and who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, and to thank those who continue to serve and to remember their families as well. 

Animal charities with information about animals serving in war include The Blue Cross, The Brooke, SPANA and the National Army Museum.  They all have information about the role animals and horses particularly played. The PDSA Dickin Medal is the highest award any animal can receive whilst serving in military conflict. 

The British, Commonwealth and Allied forces enlisted millions of animals. Horses, mules, donkeys, dogs, pigeons, elephants, camels, oxen, bullocks, cats, rats, canaries and even glow worms.  Many were killed, often suffering from wounds, starvation, thirst, exhaustion, disease and exposure.  ... Wildlife was affected as fighting takes place on their habitats. 

In London's Hyde Park, there's a memorial called Animals in War, pictured above right.  It is dedicated to all the animals who served and died alongside the British and Allied forces. One inscriptions reads: "They had no choice."