Britain's animals have their own air raid precaution organization worked out much on the lines of that for the human population. There are nearly 100,000,000 domestic animals in Great Britain—twice as many animals as there are people, writes Mehta Spraggs in the Science or" For these the Air Raid Precautions Committee for Animals has evolved eme which includes rescue squads, "wardens" (they enter time-inbed areas fo look for animals shut up behind), ambulances, mobile and other first-aid units and a temporary rest centre.
Much animal care work at the first-aid centre is done by women, A great army of voluntary animal guards has been recruited to act as confact officers between these centres and the animal owners. The committee, where possible, appoints an animal guard to every street. They are not required to be out during raids, but scout round for animals needing help as soon as the all-clear has sounded.
Through the registration system for pets organized by the committee (under which each pet is given a numbered disk and is put on the list at headquarters), thousands of animals have been restored to their owners after raids. Col.
R. J. Stordy, the committee's organizer, says: New homes have been found for 1,000 dogs and 600 cats. The scheme is appreciated by the police, too, because it enables stray animals to be taken home, raid or no raid. In fact, it serves as a national check-up on Britain's 6,000,000 cats and dogs. Colonel Stordy said that dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, monkeys and birds show little fear of bombs.
More horses are seen on city streets today than for man; s past, owing to petrol shortage, and their friends have been busy securing the use of sheds or garages to be reinforced temporary animal shelters. In a number of parks, on cricket and football grounds and other open spaces, emergency standings have been established where horses may be secured during daylight raids, either to stout trees or to manger rings. Horses in Britain are required by law to wear a halter with rope so that they may be tethered quickly in an emergency
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.