article_snippet: The pictures show soldiers, dressed in full uniform, posing fondly with the animals as well as whole companies with the animals that were likely to have been trained to act as messengers, scouts and seekers to find and help the wounded on the battlefield.
article_snippet: The series of intimate pictures betrays the high regard placed on the animals - which were vital as the war moved to the trenches, either in providing comfort to soldiers or helping with tactics to foil the enemy.
article_snippet: Some were used as sentinel dogs, kept on a short leash to accompany guards on the top of the trench.
article_snippet: Some were trained to give a warning signal if an unknown person entered a secure area, so subtle the enemy would not have realised Some had been detected.
article_snippet: Others were used to act as scouts.
article_snippet: Able to detect enemy scent up to 1000 yards away, Dogs were trained to run ahead searching for alien scents and give subtle signals to troops, such as straightening Dogs tails or raising Dogs backs, when an enemy was approaching.
article_snippet: The animals were seen as more efficient than human messengers, able to cover greater distances and any terrain.
article_snippet: The animals also presented less of a target to enemies and were able to carry messages from the first line of fighting troops to commanding officers in the rear.
article_snippet: Animals were typically equipped with simple medical supplies so soldiers found by Animals could make an attempt to treat Animals own wounds.
article_snippet: the animals were seen as a psychological comfort to soldiers which could temporarily take away the torment of life in the trenches.
article_snippet: the animals were also useful at removing rats and other pests, making life slightly more comfortable.
article_snippet: The animals are paired with a handler after being trained for detection work, such as helping to search for survivors after an explosion.
highlights_snippet: The pictures portray the important role of the animals during the war, as scouts, messengers and even pets .
  