Page 14 - DATR Open Day 2023

MILITARY ANIMAL
REHOMING CENTRE (MARC)
Preparing Military Working Dogs for life after Service
MARC was established in 2016, to ensure Military Working Dogs (MWDs) are found happy and
suitable homes on their retirement. Most MWDs retire at the end of a long service career however MARC also finds homes for younger dogs deemed unsuitable for military service. This is usually because the dog has decided it doesn’t fancy working for a living, or perhaps doesn’t have quite the necessary talent. On occasion it may be because they have a veterinary issue unsuited to a busy military life and they would prefer a more peaceful time!
All MWDs are assessed by one of our qualified dog trainers or animal behaviourists to ensure they are suitable and safe for life in the “real
world”. We aim to ensure that our dogs are relaxed when going to a new home, but also that they are confident with things they may never have experienced before. Some of our tests are as simple as riding past the dog on a bicycle or seeing how they react in a home environment. Because we have plenty of time to do this work, our dogs can often be seen around Melton Mowbray, either walking around the countryside or within the town itself, meeting people, animals, cars and anything and everything else. If you are lucky, you may see us sitting outside a café with a coffee!
Some of our dogs can be with us for a long time whilst we make sure they know how to behave. These dogs get special attention and training to make sure they are ready to go to a family. Once they are comfortable and we are happy, we start to look at pairing the right dogs with the right home. For example, some of our dogs aren’t keen on other dogs or cats. Some families also have a particular love for a certain breed, and we will look for new families who understand these breed differences. When
we find a suitable home, potential families are invited to visit us so that they can meet the dog for the first time. This involves a short visit including a meet and greet and a walk with one of our staff followed by a chat about the rehome. If the family are keen to progress, then more visits can be arranged for longer walks and introductions with wider family members and existing family pets. We will then visit you at home with the new dog to confirm that it is the right fit for both owners and dog.
Retired MWDs can make great pets. We will be introducing some of our dogs in the main
14 | DEFENCE ANIMAL TRAINING REGIMENT