The hero Army dogs who helped save thousands of lives in Afghanistan by sniffing out IEDs - are to be put down (Details, pics)

Two British Army dogs, which helped save thousands of lives in Afghanistan, face death by lethal injection after senior officers ruled that they can't be rehomed.

Kevin and Dazz worked with troops to locate explosives in Helmand Province and retired four years ago. The Belgian shepherds are due to be put down next week as they were deemed 'unsafe'.

But former soldiers and handlers have called for the decision to be reversed. They have now written to the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire - where the dogs have been working with trainees since being retired - to save the pair.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman told The Sun: 'Wherever possible, we endeavour to rehome them (dogs) at the end of their service life.

'Sadly, there are some occasions where this is not possible.' A petition has been launched by former SAS soldier Andy McNab in a bid to stop the duo being put down, as well as a third canine, a former police dog named Driver.

On the site, he wrote: 'Dogs like Kevin, Dazz and Driver are an asset when they are serving but they even more of an asset when they are retired.

He praised service dogs for saving 'countless lives when I was in the Special Air Service sniffing out explosives'.

'We owe them every chance possible to be housed and not killed.'

'In Afghanistan when I was on a patrol the dogs found an IED in front of us, I was number three in line, I was very, very lucky to survive.

'In 2012, the MoD sparked controversy when two dogs, which were protecting Prince William, were put down just two days after he left.

WHAT HAPPENS TO DOGS AFTER THEY SERVE IN THE MILITARY?

They operate with handlers on various operations, including detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), looking for safe routes and buildings and drug-busting tasks.

Just under 400 military dogs are currently working in the British Army. Many have served in conflicts in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia.

When they come to the end of their service they go to a group of highly experienced dog trainers within the Canine Training Squadron.

The job of these trainers is to 'de-train' dogs, to prepare them for possible rehoming into the civilian population. The trainers use techniques to relax the dogs, and make them understand that they no longer have to work.

Although not all dogs are suitable for rehoming, many are rehomed with ex-military dog handlers, and many are also rehomed with the general civilian population.

They aim to introduce the dogs to 'Civi Street' in a controlled and safe way, continually assessing their suitability for rehoming.

The process of ensuring a dog is suitable for the outside world is very strict, and rigorous procedures are followed to ensure dogs are re-homed wherever possible.

The requirements for being able to rehome a military working dog are quite strict, and there is a waiting list of applicants wishing to offer them a home.

If, at the end of 'de-training' dogs are considered too old, dangerous, 'below standard', ill or unfit, they will be put down.

The hero Army dogs facing execution: Outrage as Kevin and Dazz - who helped save thousands of lives in Afghanistan by sniffing out IEDs - are to be put down because they are 'unsafe' to be rehomed