Whilst most of us will be spending time with our families on Christmas Day, staff at the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) in Melton Mowbray will be bringing some Christmas cheer to their charges. Work does not stop at the DAC even on Christmas Day. Starting at 8.00 am a 40-strong team of soldiers will feed, groom and exercise the horses and dogs before enjoying a few hours off to enjoy their own Christmas festivities. Staff Sergeant Craig Woodall is the Hospital Manager in the Veterinary Training Squadron, and will be treating the injured animals who still require their medication as normal on Christmas Day. Back at home his wife Cheryl will be preparing Christmas dinner. He said: “We rehabilitate and care for the military’s injured animals and have someone on call 24-hrs a day, 365 days a year. “I don’t mind working Christmas Day, I tend to volunteer to work and have New Year off because we don’t have children and we have a Craigmas day after Christmas.” Corporal of Horse Antony Glass of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is a riding instructor at the Centre. Antony teaches soldiers to become horse riding instructors so they can return to their units to teach others how to ride. He also trains the horses. “The horses need to be kept fully fit, so it is important they receive their exercise, “said Antony. “We have a new training course starting in January and it takes up to six weeks to get a horse fit for the course, so it’s important that we maintain their fitness.” On Christmas morning the horses will be fed and exercised. Whilst the horses are stretching their legs, their stables will be mucked out so they return to a clean home with fresh hay and water. This takes around three hours. Antony will return in the afternoon to check on the horses and give them their last feed of the day. “My friend and colleague, Sergeant Dennis Martin, has invited me to Christmas dinner this year,” he said. “I’ll then spend New Year with my girlfriend, McKenna Forrest, and my family. I’ll probably end up having four or five Christmas dinners when I go home as many of my relatives invite me around for a delayed Christmas day!” Major Steve Leavis, Second in Command of the Defence Animal Centre, said: “Animals require care 365 days of the year. For us Christmas dinner comes second - animal welfare comes first, and is a priority at the Defence Animal Centre even on Christmas Day. “I think it highlights the vocational nature of the job that the soldiers accept it as part of their work, just like our colleagues who will be working overseas on Christmas Day.” In the early evening, whilst most people will be relaxing in front of the television having eaten and drunk too much, the soldiers will be feeding the animals their evening meal and making their final checks. The only change to the working day for all is that there will be no training. The Defence Animal Centre is the epicentre for research and development in the use of animals in Defence. It comprises 4 Squadrons (Headquarters, Canine Training Squadron, Equine Training Squadron and the Veterinary Training Squadron) which collectively provide its Management and Policy, Animal Welfare, Veterinary Medicine, Equine and Canine Procurement and Innovative Training.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 13:30:00 +0000
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