Figure 1.--Many British pet owners put down their beloved pets at the outbreak of the war (September 1939). With the advent of the Blitz (August-September 1940), manu other petowners euthanized their pets. Many others abandoned them. This Air EAid Warren saveb a kitten from a bomed out gime, bit almost certainly the pet was than euthanized.

Unlike Germany, little attention was given to animals by the British militry. A factor here was that the British Army was entirely mechanized at the time the time Hitler and Stalin launched the War in Europe. And as in World War I there was less intrest in dogs among military circles. There was some limited use of animals as the War spread into far-flung localitie, especially in the difficult conditions of the CBI, but basically the British military used relatively few animals in the War. The story of animals in Britain was largely a matter of family pets during the War. The fate of pets during World war II is one of the least reported aspect of World War II. Here there were two major impacts. Food rationing meant that it became very difficult to feed pets. Strategic bombing meant that it became difficult to protect pets as they were not permitted in public shelters. Here the Government's pre-War effort to promye the construction of home sheters, saved some Brirish pets. The exact situation and time-line varied from country to country as did the time line. We know a good bit about what happend in Britain. Little thought was given to pets before the outbreak of the War. Thus at the start of the War, many pet owners paniced. It is believed that some 0.75 million domestic pets (primarily cats and dogs), were euthenized in various ways at the outbreak of the War. This asonishly happened in the course of 1 week with the outbreak of the War September 1939). This seems almost unbelievable in a country remounded to be populated with animal lovers. Government agencies as Britain move toward War, suddenly realized that pets would be a problem. The National Air Raid Precautions Animals Committee (NARPAC) was hastily formed. It drafted a short broadside, 'Advice to Animal Owners'. The NARPAC did not order the edestrucyion of family pets, they advised pet owners, "If at all possible, send or take your household animals into the country in advance of an emergency." Finally the NARPAC advised petowners "If you cannot place them in the care of neighbours, it really is kindest to have them destroyed." The NARPAC instructions was printed in almost every newspaper as well as announced on the BBC. One author describes it as a "a national tragedy in the making". A few dogs were saved by turnig them over to the militry. Given the danger and length of the War, many of these nimals never returned to their families. This was one of the few ways to save larger dogs because of rationing. The only exception was working dogs, especially those involved with agriculture and live stock. Not only were pets euthenized, but also were many zoo animals.

Military Use

Unlike Germany, little attention was given to animals by the British militry. A factor here was that the British Army was entirely mechanized at the time the time Hitler and Stalin launched the War in Europe. And as in World War I there was less intrest in dogs among military circles. There was some limited use of animals as the War spread into far-flung localitie, especially in the difficult conditions of the CBI, but basically the British military used relatively few animals in the War. The little-known Animals in War Memorial in Hyde Park, London, is a tender tribute to the animals that served with British and Allied Forces during the War.

Pets

The story of animals in Britain was largely a matter of family pets during the War. Lost in the overwealming human tragedy is the fate of fanily pets. The fate of pets during World war II is one of the least reported aspect of World War II. Here there were two major impacts. Food rationing meant that it became very difficult to feed pets. Strategic bombing meant that it became difficult to protect pets as they were not permitted in public shelters. Here the Government's pre-War effort to promye the construction of home sheters, saved some Brirish pets. The exact situation and time-line varied from country to country as did the time line. We know a good bit about what happend in Britain. Little thought was given to pets before the outbreak of the War. Thus at the start of the War, many pet owners paniced. It is believed that some 0.75 million domestic pets (primarily cats and dogs), were euthenized in various ways at the outbreak of the War. [Campbell, Bonzo's] This asonishly happened in the course of 1 week with the outbreak of the War (September 1939). An author reserching civilian animals highlights what happened all over Britain, "During the late Thirties, my aunt Lena would walk her beloved wire-haired fox terrier Paddy across a common every evening to a suburban railway station to meet her husband Ernest off the train. Paddy would jump up to greet him joyfully, and the trio would amble home together. But when war broke out in September 1939, Ernest coldly announced that Lena couldn’t keep Paddy. The very next day, he took the dog from her arms and left the house. She never saw Paddy again." [Campbell, Panic.] We do not know how Paddy met his demise. Especially disheatening is how the slaughter occurred. Many just shooed cats and dogs out into the street. Other tied them into sacks to be thrown in canals or back streets. This seems almost unbelievable in a country remounded to be populated with animal lovers. It was widely felt that the Germans would begin to bomb Britain as they had done in World war I. It was not understood that the Luftwaffe did not have long-range bombers. Pet owner were convinced that putting down their pets was a humane alternative to having them terrified and roaming the bombed streets. The Government was instrumentl in the slughter. Government agencies as Britain move toward War, suddenly realized that pets woulf be a problem. The National Air Raid Precautions Animals Committee (NARPAC) was hastily formed. It drafted a short broadside, 'Advice to Animal Owners'. The NARPAC did not order the destruction of family pets, they advised pet owners, "If at all possible, send or take your household animals into the country in advance of an emergency." Finally the NARPAC advised petowners "If you cannot place them in the care of neighbours, it really is kindest to have them destroyed." The NARPAC instructions was printed in almost every newspaper as well as announced on the BBC. One author describes it as a "a national tragedy in the making". As the War progressed, food became more of a problem. Britain as a result of the fall of France (June 1940) began preparung for total war and took measures such a involving women in the workforce and rationing food that went far beyond what the Germans, who thought that they had won the War, did. This only increased with the Blitz and the expanding German U-Boat Campaign. The Bitish did not starve, but food became a real issue. The population maintained their caloric intake, but meat, fats, and milk were in short supply. And of course this is what was needed for the pets. There was vitually no meat and fat available from British tables, not only during the war, but in the immediate post-War years as well. There was no real alternativ, but to substantually reduce the pet population. A few dogs were saved by turnig them over to the militry. Given the danger and length of the War, many of these animals never returned to their families. This was one of the few ways to save larger dogs because of rationing.

Working Dogs

The only exception was working dogs, especially those involved with agriculture and live stock. Not only were pets euthenized, but also were many zoo animals.

Zoos

Farm Animals

Sources

Campbell, Clare with Christy Campbell. Bonzo’s War: Animals Under Fire 1939-1945 (Constable & Robinson: 2015).

Campbell, Claire. "Panic that drove Britain to slaughter 750,000 family pets in one week...." Daily Mail.com (April 9, 2015).

Created: 2:04 PM 4/9/2015
Last updated: 4:31 PM 4/9/2015