Mridan » Travelogue Entry » Dog of war suffers shellshock

Dog of war suffers shellshock

TOO frightened to venture from his kennel, Max is a forgotten casualty of the “war on terror”.

When eventually coaxed from behind the steel gate, the sad-eyed golden labrador gives no hints that he was once among the British military’s top assets.

Max was tasked with sniffing out explosives, guns and weapons caches across Afghanistan as part of a team of lite army canines.

But since witnessing a deadly suicide bombing in Kabul about five months ago, he has been left shellshocked - unable to cope with working in one of the world’s most dangerous countries.

Sergeant Martin Evans, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, said: “Max and his handler were knocked down by the blast wave from a suicide bomber. The dog got up, but he was shaken.

“I would say Max is potentially suffering from a mild case of post-traumatic stress disorder. When he goes out, he’s much more wary of local people and can’t concentrate on the job.

The dog, who is four years old, is due to be posted to Cyprus by 18 March and then to be issued with a pet passport, before hopefully being found a new home in the UK.

There are 21 military dogs in Afghanistan, working up to 16 hours a day in a variety of roles.

Max is among a few that have suffered psychological problems.

To rehome a military dog, contact: Procurement Cell, Defence Animal Centre, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0GX.