Give it back is limited dog basically transmission maybe walla after telling how pigeons saved lives. RAF pilots would take them on missions then release them if they were downed with a message giving their position to rescuers. Dogs were used to messages too. They also helped wounded soldiers and sniffed out the enemy. Around 20 served the war, some pulling heavy armour, machine guns and other gear. Among the most important were watchdogs trained not to bark but quietly growl on the approach of enemy troops. some instances they would just silently prick up their ears. The training took place at the War Dog School of Instruction Hampshire. Lt Col Richardson, who ran the school and went into battle with his dogs, said later: Their skill, courage and tenacity has been amazing. During heavy barrages, when all other communications have been cut, the messenger dogs have made their way. One of the most legendary was Rags, abandoned French stray adopted by the US 1st Infantry Division. Though he was gassed, shelled and partially blinded, he survived the war. This was partly because he could hear shells coming before the soldiers he was early-warning system too. Canaries were used to detect poisonous gases and both cats and dogs hunted rats the squalid trenches. Horses were recruited hundreds of thousands for the cavalry and, with donkeys and mules, to haul equipment over terrain vehicles could not cross. the Middle East and Asia camels did the same. With exploits that mirror the fictional story of War Horse, he survived the massive casualties at Ypres, the Somme and Passchendaele and lived on until 1941. Warrior's newspaper obituary said The horse served continuously on the Front till Christmas Day 1918. Twice he was buried by the bursting of big shells on soft but he was never seriously wounded. Again and again he survived when death seemed certain and, indeed, befell all his neighbours. I have seen him, even when a shell has burst within a few feet, stand still without a tremor just turn his head and, unconcerned, look at the smoke of the burst. Dr Matthew Shaw of the British Library, which dedicated exhibition to WW1 animals, says: They were central to the war effort. Without them it's likely victory would not have been secured. It would have been impossible to keep the front line supplied. The casualties were heavy. Of a million horses and mules recruited by the British Army, nearly half died as a result of injury or enemy fire. one day alone 7 horses died during the battle of Verdun 1916. And most of those who survived enemy action were seen off by disease, that the end only 60 returned home. When war broke out the Our Dumb Friends League launched what would become the Blue Fund to raise money for the Army Veterinary Corps. Steven Broomfield, hospital manager at the Blue HQ London, explains: By the end of 1914 the Blue had established four main depots on the Front supplying bandages, antiseptic tablets, fly shields for their eyes and humane killers if they couldn't be saved. By 1918 the fund had raised £170 around £6million today and treated 50 sick horses and 18 dogs. Mr Broomfield also believes horses played a decisive role the victory. the latter part of the war, the Germans ran out of horses and dismounted their cavalry, he says. 1918 they launched a massive offensive that broke through the British and French lines but had no cavalry to exploit it. We, on the other hand, had several divisions of horses that could plug holes all over the place. Some animals were even accused of espionage. a July 1915 report released by the US National Archives, officers from the 36th Infantry Brigade, 12th Division, claimed a dog and two cats were acting suspiciously around the trenches, and voiced the suspicion that they were spying. The note read: They have been the habit of crossing our trenches at night. Steps are being taken to trap them if possible. The fate of the suspects was never recorded. Another vital role played by animals was as morale-boosting mascots. And alongside domestic pets taken into battle, goats and even fox cubs were recruited too. Cornish of the Imperial War Museum explains: You'd find kittens a tank and even the heat of the battle, men would adopt animals that had been left over by the enemy. It was probably something to do with holding on to a bit of normality... offering a bit of innocence contrast to the horror around them. Because the one thing they couldn't blame for everything bad that was happening around them was animal. NORD's fitness programming aligns with the Health Department's Fit initiative, which is working to create a culture and environment that supports everyone achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Learn