British soldiers are adopting four abandoned puppies after rescuing them from freezing temperatures while taking part in NATO’s biggest war games of the year. Soldiers from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery deployed to south-east Romania for the major military event stepped in to save the stray dogs after fearing they could die in the arduous conditions.
One of the puppies is being adopted by Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Defty, who said: “On arrival to the exercise area it was quite a barren estate, with loads of adult dogs. Once we were established, we noticed there were four small puppies that had been abandoned. The temperatures here at night were dropping to an average of -10C, and myself and a couple of others were fearful that the pups would not make it.
"So, we took [it] into our own hands to try get them rescued.”
The soldiers could not touch the puppies because of force health protection protocol but provided them with some shelter to ensure they survived.
They called a local animal charity which, alongside the Romanian police, visited the exercise area in Smardan, less than 20 miles from the Ukraine border, to rescue the soldiers’ new four-legged friends.
WO2 Defty, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant for 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, said catching the pups was an “ordeal”.
“They were terrified and hadn’t had much human contact, but we knew they were going to a better home, that home being ourselves,” the senior non-commissioned officer said.
WO2 Defty, Staff Sergeant Curtis, Sergeant Tomkinson and Sergeant Stewart, all based in north-east England, are adopting the puppies named Luca, Romia, Nala and Willow.
They will be quarantined in Romania, receiving vet care and the treatment required to bring them to full health before moving to the UK in early March.
The soldiers have been taking part in NATO’s Exercise Steadfast Dart 25, with almost 3,000 British troops involved.
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