Defence Animal Centre
Encyclopedia
The Defence Animal Centre (DAC) is a training centre, based in Melton Mowbray
, east Leicestershire
, that trains animals (mainly dogs) for all three armed forces. It is also home of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
. The DAC now comes under command of the Royal School of Military Engineering
.
dogs began to be trained at the Centre from 1994, after merging RAF and Army dog training in April 1991. The Centre is run by Chorley
-based Glendale Facilities Management. It was managed by Realm from 2000 under a PFI contract. The Army School of Equitation's indoor riding school was opened by Princess Anne on 28 February 2008. It used to be a defence agency until March 1999, when it became part of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA), in the Adjutant General's Corps
Training Group, in April 1999. In 2002, a new £10m building opened at the Centre.
, HM Prison Service
, HM Revenue and Customs (former HM Customs and Excise), other UK government agencies and overseas agencies including Irish Revenue Customs Service. UK police dog
s are trained in-house at nine regional training centres, such as the Met
's site at Keston
and Scotland's centre at Pollok Country Park
.
s, are mainly trained as sniffer dog
s to detect drugs and bombs. Substances the dogs are trained to detect include TNT, Cordtex
, C-4
and Semtex
.
).
The site has been chosen as a training ground for the 2012 Olympics for cycling and equestrian events.
(training to repair horseshoe
s), recognised by the Worshipful Company of Farriers
and Farriers Registered Council. International farrier competitions are held at the Centre annually. 140 horses can be stabled at the Centre, with 260 out at grass in 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of grazing. 250 dogs can be housed on the main site.
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
, east Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, that trains animals (mainly dogs) for all three armed forces. It is also home of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. It is a small but technically competent corps forming part of the Army Medical Services...
. The DAC now comes under command of the Royal School of Military Engineering
Royal School of Military Engineering
The Royal School of Military Engineering is the main training establishment for the British Army's Royal Engineers. After they have successfully completed their Phase 1 - Basic Soldier Training, members of the Corps of Royal Engineers attend 3 RSME, at Minley for Phase 2a - Combat Engineering...
.
History
The Army moved in in 1946. RAF PoliceRoyal Air Force Police
The Royal Air Force Police is the Service Police branch of the Royal Air Force. It was formed on 1 April 1918, when the RAF was formed by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service . It is responsible for the policing of all service personnel much like there RN or Army...
dogs began to be trained at the Centre from 1994, after merging RAF and Army dog training in April 1991. The Centre is run by Chorley
Chorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
-based Glendale Facilities Management. It was managed by Realm from 2000 under a PFI contract. The Army School of Equitation's indoor riding school was opened by Princess Anne on 28 February 2008. It used to be a defence agency until March 1999, when it became part of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA), in the Adjutant General's Corps
Adjutant General's Corps
The Adjutant General's Corps is a corps in the British Army responsible for many of its general administrative services. As of 2002, the AGC had a staff of 7,000 people...
Training Group, in April 1999. In 2002, a new £10m building opened at the Centre.
Organisation requirements
As well as British defence organisations, it prepares dogs for the UK Immigration ServiceUK Immigration Service
The United Kingdom Immigration Service, , was the operational arm of the Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Directorate...
, HM Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
, HM Revenue and Customs (former HM Customs and Excise), other UK government agencies and overseas agencies including Irish Revenue Customs Service. UK police dog
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
s are trained in-house at nine regional training centres, such as the Met
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
's site at Keston
Keston
Keston is a part suburban, part rural area of the London Borough of Bromley, England. It lies on the edge of Hayes Common, to the northwest of Greater London's border with Kent.-History:...
and Scotland's centre at Pollok Country Park
Pollok Country Park
Pollok Country Park is a large country park located in Pollok, south Glasgow. Prior to the building of the M77 motorway it was the largest urban green space in Europe. In 2007 it was named the best park in Britain...
.
Detection skills
The dogs, often springer spanielEnglish Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is a breed of gun dog traditionally used for flushing and retrieving game. It is an affectionate, excitable breed with an average lifespan of twelve to fourteen years. Descended from the Norfolk or Shropshire Spaniels of the mid-19th century, the breed has diverged into...
s, are mainly trained as sniffer dog
Detection dog
A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to and works at using its senses to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, or blood. Hunting dogs that search for game and search dogs that search for missing humans are generally not considered detection dogs...
s to detect drugs and bombs. Substances the dogs are trained to detect include TNT, Cordtex
Cordtex
Cordtex is a type of detonating cord generally used in mining. It uses an explosive core of pentaerythritol tetranitrate which is inside its plastic coating.It is commonly the thickness of electrical extension cord and "burns" at 2 km per second...
, C-4
C-4 (explosive)
C4 or Composition C4 is a common variety of the plastic explosive known as Composition C.-Composition and manufacture:C4 is made up of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer and usually marker or odorizing taggant chemicals such as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane to help detect the explosive and...
and Semtex
Semtex
Semtex is a general-purpose plastic explosive containing RDX and PETN. It is used in commercial blasting, demolition, and in certain military applications. Semtex became notoriously popular with terrorists because it was, until recently, extremely difficult to detect, as in the case of Pan Am...
.
Supply of animals
It trains about 300 dogs a year, taking about four to six months to train. Most dogs are donated by the general public. The Services Veterinary Hospital looks after the health of all the dogs (Canine Division) and horses (Equine Division) of the UK armed forces (mainly the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
).
The site has been chosen as a training ground for the 2012 Olympics for cycling and equestrian events.
In Combat
In the field, some military (and police) dogs can be fitted with special bullet-proof vests to protect them.Army School of Farriery
At the Centre is a School of FarrieryFarrier
A farrier is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves...
(training to repair horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
s), recognised by the Worshipful Company of Farriers
Worshipful Company of Farriers
The Worshipful Company of Farriers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Farriers, or horseshoe makers, organised in 1356. It received a Royal Charter of incorporation in 1674. Over the years, the Company has evolved from a trade association for horseshoe makers into an...
and Farriers Registered Council. International farrier competitions are held at the Centre annually. 140 horses can be stabled at the Centre, with 260 out at grass in 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of grazing. 250 dogs can be housed on the main site.
External links
- Defence Animal Centre
- History of RAF police dogs
- Forces Equine
- History of the Army's veterinary services