First class medical help
for Army’s working dogs

Captain Matt Clark with search dog Harley in Afghanistan.

“Much of our work is preventative medicine,” said Captain Matt Clarke, the officer responsible for all of the army’s working dogs in Camp Bastion. “That’s simple things like inoculations to prevent them picking up nasty diseases, treating them for stomach bugs or treating their paws, which crack in the heat, before they become infected. Many have similar ailments to the ones soldiers here can experience.”

This realistic dog is used as a training device to practice medical procedures.

Being on the frontline inevitably means some of the dogs can become casualties themselves. “If that does happen I know the dogs will get a level of care comparable to almost anything in the UK. We have state-of-the-art surgical facilities at our disposal and if it’s something we can’t handle then dogs can be airlifted home on an emergency medical flight,” he said. But it’s not just the army’s dogs that Captain Clark and his team help look after.

“Part of our mission here is to help local Afghans look after their livestock. There’s virtually no veterinary care here and the animals can be crucial to their well being.” He added,:”working here you realise Afghans have a very different attitude towards certain animals. But it’s important to remember there’s very little education here. Add to that cultural differences and you realise you shouldn’t judge them by western standards.”

For more information, contact the Task Force Helmand Press Information Centre on: helmandpic@defencemediaops.co.uk.