After our May meeting, Pam Farquhar gave a very interesting talk about the important role of British Army Dogs during the wars. Pam is now the owner of two retired Military Working Dogs, Bak and Hiha.

Our speaker related the stories of Judy, a dog which became a prisoner of war in Shanghai; Buster, a remarkable search spaniel, who won medals for saving a thousand lives, and Trio, a dog, which was also awarded a medal for saving many lives. The enemy also tried to shoot and kill an Australian message dog. Air dogs were also trained to take medicines to injured patients.

In World War 1, the Russians trained 33,000 dogs to go under the tanks.

During the Vietnam War, the Americans sent 4,000 shepherd dogs to Vietnam. President Clinton insisted that the dogs must be brought back to America after the war was over. Our Royal Army Veterinary Corps looked after and trained many dogs.

Nowadays spaniel and labrador military dogs are athletic and are trained to carry microphones, as well as being loyal and worthy of praise.