12/10/2026
They didn't choose to go.
They didn't understand the war, the cause, or the noise. They just followed the people they trusted.
Horses pulled heavy guns through freezing mud until they could go no further. Dogs ran through gunfire carrying messages that saved lives. Pigeons flew on through smoke and shellfire, because someone was waiting for them to arrive.
Their legacy lives on in every dog that searches rubble for survivors, every horse that stands calm in a crowd, and every working animal still serving beside our Armed Forces, police and emergency services.
Behind every one of them is a handler who'd tell you the same thing: they're not just an animal. They're a partner. A friend. Family.
We wear the purple poppy for them.
We will remember them. 💜