Hero army dogs saved from death row after minister intervenes

Two hero army dogshave been rescued from a lethal injection after outcry from former soldiers who worked with the dogs sparked a nationwide campaign.

Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan, who is a dog lover, was outraged by the fact that three dogs, who saved thousands of lives while serving with the army, were due to be put down because a suitable home could not be found for them.

Former handlers were heartbroken, offering to look after Belgian shepherds Kevin and Dazz, who sniffed out IEDs in Afghanistan, and military dog Driver, who has now also been saved.

However, chiefs ruled they could not be rehomed safely, condemning the service animals to death.

Experienced handlers offered to take the dogs, but apparently were rebuffed.

One told the Sun: "People who worked closely with these dogs are devastated at the plans — they’ve begged to save them all.

Sir Alan Duncan campaigned for the animals, writing to Ministry of Defence ministerial colleagues to call for a reprieve.

On Monday night he said: "I'm absolutely thrilled that army hero dogs Kevin and Dazz have been saved. They can now enjoy a very happy and well deserved retirement."

The Foreign Office minister previously told how the "hero" dogs had "fought fearlessly alongside our soldiers".

He had said: "Let us now be the ones to fight for them and give them a chance to live happy lives where they can thrive. It is the least they deserve.

"Of course, it is of great importance that all military dogs are properly assessed before re-homing to ensure they do not pose a danger to civilians, but only in circumstances where such danger has been properly proven should they be put down."

The dogs are based at the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire - in the constituency which Sir Alan represents.

The outcry caused Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson to pay a visit to the dogs and officially confirm they have been reprieved.

He told The Sun: "I’ve instructed my department these dogs are to be saved. We’re talking with charities and looking at a programme as to whether they can be re-housed with a handler in a more normal environment.

"We’re going to ensure they have a golden future. We’ll do everything we can to look after animals that form such an important part of the military family."

A petition had been launched by former SAS soldier Andy McNab to stop the duo being put down, as well as a third canine, a former police dog named Driver.

He told The Sun: "It's a brilliant success story and no less than these dogs deserve."

On the website hosting the petition - which gathered more than 370,000 signatures - he praised service dogs for saving "countless lives when I was in the Special Air Service sniffing out explosives".

"In Afghanistan when I was on a patrol the dogs found an IED in front of us, I was number three in line, I was very, very lucky to survive," he wrote.

The Sun reported Kevin and Dazz are both aged nine and retired from the frontline about four years ago and will be re-homed along with Driver.

An MOD spokesman previously said: "Wherever possible, we endeavour to re-home them (dogs) at the end of their service life.

"Sadly, there are some occasions where this is not possible."