Monuments dedicated to war animals

Tributes to four-legged heroes.

Animals have played a crucial role in armed conflicts throughout history, serving as messengers, carriers, guards, and even comforting companions for soldiers. To honor their bravery and sacrifice, several monuments have been erected around the world, particularly in symbolic capitals. These four-legged, winged, or hoofed heroes shared the dangers and suffering of the battlefield and deserve a place in our collective memory.

Let’s explore some iconic monuments dedicated to war animals around the world.

United Kingdom: The "Animals in War Memorial" in London
In London, on Park Lane near Hyde Park, stands one of the most remarkable monuments dedicated to war animals. Inaugurated in 2004, it honors horses, dogs, pigeons, and other animals that served under British command. Two large horse statues dominate the memorial, accompanied by the inscription: “They had no choice.”

Canada: Ottawa and its War Animals Memorial
In Ottawa, in Confederation Park, a monument was inaugurated in 2012 to honor the animals that participated in conflicts alongside Canadian forces. This memorial highlights the role of horses and dogs, which were especially utilized during the world wars and the Korean War.

Australia: The War Animals Memorial in Canberra
The sculpture “Elevation of the Senses” pays tribute to the service and sacrifice of explosive detection dogs killed in action during various conflicts involving Australia, from the Vietnam War to the conflict in Afghanistan. The sculpture highlights the essential role and unique bond between explosive detection dogs and their handlers. On the side, the names of Australian explosive detection dogs who died in action are engraved: Razz, Merlin, Andy, Nova, and Lucky. Also engraved are the names of Herbie and his handler, sapper Darren Smith, who lost their lives together on a mission in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, in June 2010.

United States: Numerous tributes to war dogs
Dogs have paid a heavy price in all wars involving the U.S. military, and many monuments honor them across the United States. The National War Dog Teams Monument is located at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. This monument honors handlers, dogs, and veterinary personnel from all branches of the armed forces (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard) who contributed to the military dog program since World War II.

A large memorial project is underway in Washington D.C. The mission of the National Service Animals Memorial is to create a beautiful and moving national memorial in the country’s capital to inspire and honor the work, contributions, and sacrifices of service animals and their handlers throughout U.S. history, while celebrating the unique bond between humans and animals.

Japan: From 1939 to 1992
In Nagoya, a discreet stele bears the inscription: “Memorial to Military Horses, Dogs, and Pigeons.” The stele features bas-reliefs depicting a horse, a German Shepherd, and three pigeons. This monument was erected in 1939 by the former 3rd Division of the Imperial Japanese Army to honor the animals used and sacrificed during wars. Today, it is almost forgotten, and very few people visit it. Another monument was inaugurated on March 20, 1992, in Tokyo. This monument honors military dogs who served with loyalty and sacrifice during conflicts, emphasizing the importance of remembering them in history. On the right side of the pedestal is written: “From the outbreak of the Manchurian Incident in September 1931 until the end of the Greater East Asia War in August 1945, military dogs, mostly German Shepherds, served as faithful combat companions for our soldiers on the front. Most were killed by enemy bullets or died from injuries and diseases. Even those who survived until the end of the war could not return to their homeland. To forever commemorate the achievements of these military dogs and honor their loyal spirits, people of goodwill gathered funds to erect this statue. March 20, 1992, Animal Protection Day. Kaikōsha Foundation, with the support of Yasukuni Shrine.”

Russia: Tribute to war dogs
In 2013, a monument dedicated to war dogs was inaugurated in Moscow on Poklonnaya Hill. The monument depicts a dog sitting on shredded tank tracks, in memory of animals that destroyed enemy tanks at the cost of their own lives. A medical satchel is fixed to its back, symbolizing the medicines they delivered to the wounded on the battlefield. The model of the dog represented was inspired by a German Shepherd named Alf.

France: Paris and its first dedicated monument
It wasn’t until January 30, 2024, that the French capital inaugurated its very first monument honoring war animals. Located in Square Boucicaut, in the 7th arrondissement, it officially recognizes the essential role played by millions of animals that accompanied French soldiers, particularly during world conflicts. However, the very minimalist aesthetic of the work has been met with mixed reactions.

Notably, on October 20, 2022, the city of Suippes inaugurated the first French memorial honoring heroic dogs, an initiative led by the Société Centrale Canine. The choice of location is significant, as Suippes hosts the 132nd Canine Infantry Regiment (RIC), which houses the largest kennel in Western Europe, capable of accommodating up to 700 dogs.

Germany: Shameful amnesia
Although several hundred thousand horses and tens of thousands of dogs lost their lives in the service of the German army during World Wars I and II, no official monument honors them in Germany. Only a small village, Wettelsheim, hosts a memorial dedicated to the many animals that died during conflicts, and it is located on private property. This project was completed in 2022 by Barbara Engelhardt, an animal welfare activist. At the entrance of her property, an elegant life-size bronze horse sculpture now catches the eye of passersby. Beside it, a commemorative plaque reads: “In memory of the millions of animals who lost their lives in human wars.” The memorial is complemented by a second sculpture representing a German Shepherd, along with a plaque featuring a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness and moral progress of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

It should be noted that the campus of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover hosts a monument, but it is dedicated to veterinarians and veterinary service members who died, not to animals.

A belated but essential recognition
Long overlooked in commemorations, war animals are finally receiving the recognition they deserve. These monuments recall their loyalty, courage, and the price they paid serving alongside humans. Their existence also encourages broader reflection on respect and protection of animals in times of war and peace.

In 2017, the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation established the first official Australian memorial for war animals in the heart of the World War I battlefields near the town of Pozières, France.