It was perhaps, the worst task in the Indian Army; having to kill those who served loyally by your side. But that is the task of many soldiers, who must euthanize service animals once they are too old for active duty.
The Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) have had the duty of rearing and training India’s war animals since 1779 – a 238-year-long journey prepping India’s dogs, horses and mules for military service. The largest breeding and training centre in the country, they supply the Army and other services with their animal needs.
Once on the battlefield, animals fulfil multiple roles – from mine-sniffing to guard duty and transport. Soldiers often spend as much time with their animals as they do with each other. The loss of one is as soul-wrenching as the loss of a comrade.
But this did not factor into the clinical logic that went into the Army’s euthanasia policy:
Army horses and dogs are evaluated for their fitness with respect to the performance of duties. The animals which are considered unfit for one-month active service are disposed of by humane euthanasia.
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