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Dozens Of Heroic Military Dogs Put Down For Being 'Unfit For Service'

Dozens Of Heroic Military Dogs Put Down For Being 'Unfit For Service'

​The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place at times, but this latest story will really ensure you lose all faith in humanity

EMS 7

EMS 7

The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place at times, but this latest story will really ensure you lose all faith in humanity.

According to Freedom of Information figures, 41 military dogs were put down last year after they were found to be unfit for service.

Told you it was bad.

The Mirror reports that the dogs who were euthanised were either ill or suffered from chronic conditions, or were unsuitable for finding their forever homes with foster parents. We'll take them all...

MoD/Crown

Although 121 dogs were re-homed in 2017 as part of an initiative known as Military Working Dogs, there has been an outcry about the animals that were put down.

Particularly seeing as dog behaviourist Debbie Connolly - founder of SafePets UK - said she believed some of the euthanised animals could have been saved.

She told The Mirror: "Occasionally I get them and put them through rehab. The problem is that the MoD don't seem to be keen on working with anyone else. It's just them deciding.

MoD/Crown

"I'm not pretending this is a fluffy bunny business where every dog can be rehabilitated. But they should be given the chance."

Damn straight they should be, especially since there are hundreds of Forces dogs on the circuit right now.

The dogs are made to help handlers with various operations, looking for safe routes and assisting with drug-busting tasks. They're often shipped to conflicts in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia.

PA

When it's time for them to finish their service, they're handed over to specialised dog trainers to 'de-train' the pups in order to relax them and prep them for their new homes.

The least they could do is be given a second chance at the re-training, rather than having their lives ended when they're not deemed suitable for re-homing.

In the wake of the negative feedback, the Ministry of Defence said: "Every effort is made to rehome animals but at times it is not possible, for example when they pose a risk.

"Decisions are made following a full assessment by military veterinarians and dog behaviourist experts."

Meanwhile, figures also show that in the same year, 14 military working horses were put down and 52 found new homes.

Featured Image Credit: MoD/Crown

Topics: News, Animals, Dogs