The scandal, and it surely is, of British military dogs being put to death in their hundreds is one that needs to end and end quickly, says Ryan O’Meara.

Over the past 10 years more than 800 military service dogs have been put to sleep, deemed unsuitable for civilian life following their training and loyal service in various deployments around the world.

Official figures give a variety of reasons as to why this many dogs are being euthanised but let’s cut to the chase shall we: it’s difficult to find suitable homes for dogs who have been trained and conditioned to be aggressive on command. Difficult if you set the parameters within the confines of placing a fully trained army dog in to the home of an in-experienced person who just wants a playful, easy to manage companion.

The reality is, regardless of how difficult it may be, it’s not impossible if enough effort goes in to ensuring that these dogs – who are growing in number as a result of the UK’s growing overseas military deployments on the back of conflicts in the middle east – are properly catered for once their military service ends.

As ‘ordinary’ pet dog owners we are continually, and rightly, told that a dog is for life. We understand that taking on a dog means we are (or should be) responsible for that dog for the rest of its natural life. Service dogs should not be exempt from this. One could argue, given the nature of their work, training and the bonds they build with the people who’s lives they’re protecting, they should be granted an absolute right to live out their full, natural lives – not disposed of like a spent bullet casing

The military owes it to these animals to do ensure they don’t end up being put to sleep in such alarming numbers. It’s very easy to say they can’t be re-homed – but that’s not good enough. It’s easy for any one to give a dog up, if the work and effort to find new, permanent, suitable homes seems like too much.