Quick Facts
Biography
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.
History
The Army moved in in 1946. RAF Police dogs began to be trained at the Centre from 1994, after merging RAF and Army dog training in April 1991. The Army School of Equitation's indoor riding school was opened by Princess Anne on 28 February 2008.
Function
Organisation requirements
As well as British defence organisations, it prepares dogs for the UK Immigration Service, 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 dogs 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.
Detection skills
The dogs, often springer spaniels, Labradors and Belgian Shepherds are mainly trained as Detection dogs to detect drugs, bombs and ancillary parts. Substances the dogs are trained to detect include TNT, Cordtex, C-4 and Semtex.
Supply of animals
It trains about 300 dogs a year, taking about four to six months to train. Some dogs are donated by the general public with the rest often purchased from both national and international vendors. The Services Veterinary Hospital looks after the health of all the dogs (Canine Training Squadron) and horses (Equine Training Squadron) of the UK armed forces (mainly the British Army). The site was used as a training ground for the London Olympics 2012 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 Farriery (training to repair horseshoes), 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 acres (0.97 km2) of grazing.