Explosive weapons and their impact on pets and pet-owners

SUMMARY: At the beginning of World War II, a government pamphlet was issue that resulted in a massive cull of British pets. After the first bombings on London in September 1940, pet owners rushed to have their pets put to sleep. There were many reasons why pet-owners took this tragic and drastic step. Some thought it would save their pets from suffering through the bombardments; others had already lost their homes and couldn’t relocate with their pets; others could not stretch their small rations to cover the needs of their pets too. At least 750,000 animals were killed in the space of a week.