Dogs played a vital part in the
first world war, without them, the whole army could not function.
‘Ratters’;
Small dogs used to keep pests
under control in the trenches.
Sentry dogs;
Dogs kept at military bases or
camps with the job of notifying their masters of unknown presences nearby.
Scout dogs;
Dogs used in the field to scout
out enemies.
Casualty or ‘Mercy’ dogs;
Dogs that scouted out the wounded
on the battlefield. They carried first-aid kits for soldiers to help
themselves. If the soldier was dying, the dog would stay and keep them company
in their last moments.
Messenger dogs;
Dogs used to send messages from
the front to headquarters and back during the war. All messages had to be
physical, since electronic communication was still very unreliable. Dogs were
used instead of humans because they were much faster and less vulnerable to
sniper-fire.
Mascot dogs;
Dogs that emotionally supported
the men trapped in the horrors of the trenches. They reminded them of the
comforts of home and gave them hope. Even Adolf Hitler, who served in Belgium,
kept a dog at his side at all times.