Author Clare Campbell tells the story of the plight of domestic pets and zoo animals during WW11 in her new book Bonzo's War: Animals Under Fire 1939 -1945.
She describes how at a time when food was rationed and cities were bombed, the Government launched a campaign which led to a massive cull of British pets. Many animals in zoos were also killed because of public safety fears of an escape during bombing.
Just before the outbreak of war, the National Air Raid Precautions Animals Committee (NARPAC) was formed. It drafted a notice – Advice to Animal Owners. The pamphlet read: "If at all possible, send or take your household animals into the country in advance of an emergency." It concluded: "If you cannot place them in the care of neighbours, it really is kindest to have them destroyed." People were worried about the threat of bombing and food shortages and over 750,000 pets were killed in the space of a week.
Animal charities, the PDSA, the RSPCA and vets were all opposed to the killing of pets and Battersea Dogs and Cats home advised against taking such drastic measures.
Nina, Duchess of Hamilton, who in 1912 became a founder of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Vivisection, which went on to become Advocates for Animals, established an animal sanctuary at her estate in Ferne, Dorset. From here her staff helped to rescue hundreds of pets from the East End of London.
Because of the immense human suffering that happened during WW11, the destruction of so many family pets hasn’t been widely spoken about. As a ‘nation of animal lovers’ people don’t want to remember the tragic mass cull of ‘man’s best friend’ when it wasn’t absolutely necessary.
Throughout time, animals have suffered as a result of human wars; from Hannibal's campaign using elephants in Roman battles, to the armed conflicts of today. They have been used as messengers, for detection, rescue, as beasts of burden and on the frontline. They also continue to be subjected to warfare experiments in laboratories.
An Animals in War Memorial was unveiled at Brooke Gate, Park Lane at Hyde Park, London in 2004. The Memorial bears two inscriptions: “This monument is dedicated to all the animals that served and died alongside British and Allied forces in wars and campaigns throughout time.”
A second, smaller inscription reads: “They had no choice.”
The following year our colleagues at Animal Aid issued a purple poppy to commemorate the animal victims of human conflicts.
This Remembrance Day, please remember all humans and all creatures great and small and wear your poppies with pride, for them all.