Animals in the second world war – in pictures

Clement Attlee with his wife, three of their children and their pet goat Mary, in the garden at their home in Stanmore, Middlesex, April 1943 Photograph: Horace Abrahams/Getty Images

A boy with a cat in London during the blitz, 1940 Photograph: Imperial War Museum

'The West Ham Borough Council Veterinary Department have devised a special gas protection bag for horses, and have instigated a corps of men and 21 dressing stations for any of the borough's 200,000 animals in the time of war. It is a large nose-bag which fits over the horse's head, and is fixed with a zip fastener, the idea being with a little food in the bag the horse would be quiet during an air raid. A long halter is also attached to allow the driver to get to shelter and still have his horse under control. The fetlocks are bandaged with special oil-skin to protect them from mustard gas'. Photograph: Daily Herald Archive/SSPL via Getty Images

Women queue with their pets at a Narpac (National Air Raid Precautions Committee) post in Holborn, London, 1940 Photograph: Imperial War Museum

A female ARP warden with a horse in the City of London Photograph: Imperial War Museum

London firemen with their poodle mascot outside Guildhall in London, 1940 Photograph: Imperial war Museum

Dogs and kennel staff at Charlton kennels, London Photograph: Blue Cross

A pet dog loaned to the army to sniff out mines, 1944 Photograph: Imperial War Museum

More pet dogs turned mine hunters Photograph: Imperial War Museum

A public information poster issued by the National Canine Defence League Photograph: Sussex University Mass Observation Archive