Page 224 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
dation was a hut within the shed. Needless to say, the conditions were primitive but, as always, the best was made with what was available while they were there working alongside elements of the Finnish Army. It was the duty of the handlers and their dogs to escort the detainees, who had been flown in by Chinook helicopter from Camp Bondsteel (the main base of the US Army under KFOR in Kosovo), to the detention centre and provide perimeter security. The dogs were not only there to prevent detainees from escaping but also to thwart attempts of encroachment by others into the facility. By the middle of the year the facility closed with no major incidents occurring.20
By October 200121 the post of BRITFOR Commander Medical on Op AGRICOLA had been filled by Lt Col Paul Marks – the first RAVC Officer to fill this BRITFOR post. It was usually occupied by Lieutenant Colonels from the RAMC, and the post commands all BRITFOR medical assets in theatre, and all multi-national medical assets in the Multi-National Brigade (Central). In addition, Comd Med ran the long-term projects to extend multi-national medical support in provision of the Blue-Light Matrix, integration of primary health care and major incident response. Although Lt Col Paul Marks only undertook a short tour, it coincided with the roulement of the Brigade and both Battle Groups.
On his return Marks said: “I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with the Army Medical Services in their Operational role. It was a busy but rewarding experience, and a highly skilled profes- sional team at Medical Branch, Medical Squadron and with the Urban and Rural Battle Groups, backed me up. I was particularly impressed with the levels of multi-national co-operation, with the Scandinavians within the Brigade area, and with the Americans at Camp Bondsteel, which comprises the Role three Bi-Lateral Integrated Medical Facility and which should become Multi-National in the near future. On the whole, I would certainly recommend the challenge to any other RAVC Officer who may be offered the chance to do it.”
The challenge of the roles placed on RAVC personnel in Kosovo was unique.
The Veterinary Technician (VT) had a vital role to play both in a military sense and that of assistance to the civil power. Corporal Sue Roberts was posted to Kosovo soon after completing her
training as an Equine VT but soon found she was treating dogs in far greater numbers. Corporal Roberts worked alongside the Veterinary Officer, Major Tiffany Cottrell, both of whom were responsible for twenty MWDs in four locations namely at Slim (Brigade Headquarters), Murphy and Paveway Lines and the Vehicle Check Point at Gate 3. There were also periodic trips across the border with Greece into Thessalonica. All of this made the VT’s duties many and varied.
Apart from being responsible for the health and welfare of the MWDs, including flea and tick control, vaccinations, worming etc and assisting the VO in surgery and anaesthetics, Corporal Roberts was responsible for putting in place effective controls of the feral animal population – unofficially termed ‘Operation MUTLEY’ – and educating Service personnel of the dangers of adopting local animals. The sinister side of taking in a stray and keeping a mascot in camp, was inviting in the risk of Rabies and Hydatial disease too, both of which were endemic in the estimated population of forty thousand feral dogs. This message was tied-in closely with the VT’s role of assisting the civil power in Kosovo by conducting lectures on the treatment of dog bites, to local ambulance crews who were a mix of Serbian and Albanian nationals. It was reported that the atmosphere was understandably ‘tense’, to say the least. Nevertheless, the message was delivered in the best tradition of the Corps.22
The feral dog problem was very serious in Kosovo. Historically, Op MUTLEY teams were licensed and trained by the VO and VT, however, in January 2002 this situation changed and the teams began to receive training from the Scandinavian Battle Groups. New ammunition was procured for a trial and the VO attended Op MUTLEY activity to monitor the process and give advice on the point of aim and carcass disposal.
Based on the high number of feral dogs during the summer of 2002, Op MUTLEY continued to deploy. The stray population had risen to in excess of one hundred and sixty thousand and as such was regarded as a threat to the deployed force.23
On 2nd August 2002, a KFOR Veterinary conference was held at Slim Lines and during the conference the UNMIK Veterinary Surgeon presented the programme for the control feral dogs in Kosovo. Prior to this – from March to May 2002 – owners of dogs were offered free vaccina- tions for rabies, worming, a dog collar ID tag and
20 ‘Dubrava Temporary Detention Facility’ (DTDF) by Cpl Jim Beaird RAVC Chiron Calling Summer 2001. 21 RAVC COMMANDER Medical Op AGRICOLA. Chiron Calling Winter 2002/2002.
22 Chiron Calling Summer 2001.
23 HQ BRITFOR Pan-Balkans Post Tour Report dated 5th June 2002.
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