By . Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 18:03 EST, 18 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:06 EST, 19 September 2013 . A decision to destroy two RAF dogs that guarded Prince William just days after he quit the service has angered animal experts and upset staff on his former base. Brus, a Belgian Shepherd, and Blade, a German Shepherd, were put down on Friday, shortly after the prince completed his final shift as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey. Charities said the animals had been disposed of like a piece of worn-out military kit while one animal behaviour expert suggested the decision was ‘a euthanasia of convenience’. The dead dogs were among 288 that the  Ministry of Defence has put down in the last ten years. Protected: Prince William's two RAF guard dogs, Belgium shepherd Brus, pictured right, and German shepherd Blade were destroyed on Friday just a few days after he left the service . Base workers pointed out they had been . very  popular and said animal-lover William – who has a dog of his own – . may also have been shocked by their fate. They were part of a unit brought in to . provide additional security while the second in line to the throne was . based at RAF Valley. A . Ministry of Defence spokesman last night insisted that the decision to . destroy the dogs was ‘entirely coincidental’ and that the animals could . not be rehomed or redeployed because of medical and behavioural issues. But . the decision was the talk of the air base yesterday. One member of . staff said William – who has a spaniel, Lupo – could often be seen . giving the dogs a pat. ‘Everyone is talking about the dogs and people are upset they’ve been put down,’ the staff member said. ‘I . saw William stroke the German Shepherd a few times and made a fuss of . him. They were really popular and William always said hello to all the . handlers.’ Dog lover William, pictured here with pet Lupo, hasn't commented on the death of Brus, (right) who the MoD says became too aggressive . Local resident . Huw Williams, 59, added: ‘I know a few of the lads on the base and I . know the dogs were well liked there. One told me  William would often go . and pat the dogs when he saw them. I bet he will be sad that they . couldn’t have found a safe home.’ Kensington Palace declined to comment yesterday, saying the issue was a matter for the MoD. William . had been based at RAF Valley since 2010. He completed his last flight . as a Sea King pilot nine days ago and has now officially left the . military. Blade and Brus were in a two-dog section set up to patrol the . airbase during the future king’s deployment. They patrolled the station . to protect military personnel, equipment and facilities. But once the . prince left the unit was closed,’ a source said. The . two animals were assessed by a squadron inspector to see if they could . be returned to the Defence Animal Centre, which helps train new . handlers. But they were both deemed unsuitable. Blade, nine and a half, . suffered from osteoarthritis in the hips and had been diagnosed with the . onset of a spinal condition, which is common in German Shepherds of . that age. It was decided he should be destroyed for medical reasons. Brus, . seven and a half, was said to display high levels of stress which . resulted in him ‘self-harming and displaying excessive aggression’. He . was deemed ‘a risk to himself, his handler and others’. Family first: Prince William left the RAF to spend more time with wife Kate and their baby son George . But . animal behaviour expert Dr Roger Mugford commented: ‘Behavioural . problems are often used as a bland excuse for putting dogs to sleep. What you have to do is work hard at making their environment better for . them. It begs the question, would these dogs still be alive if Prince . William was at the base? It sounds sound like a euthanasia of . convenience.’ A spokesman . for the Dogs Trust charity said: ‘Dogs are not pieces of disposable kit . that can be decommissioned at the end of their useful military life. We . fully understand that most service dogs cannot be rehomed as pets. Deployment to another role or retirement to a specialist handler are two . alternative options.’  A spokesman from People for the Ethical . Treatment of Animals said: ‘Dogs are not tools and are not ours to use . and toss away like empty ammunition shells.’ Asked . by the Mail whether both dogs were deemed healthy and fit to work up . until the time they were destroyed despite the issues they were said to . have suffered from, an MoD spokesman said: ‘I don’t think we are in a . position to confirm this.’ An . RAF spokesman said: ‘Whilst security was increased during Prince . William’s tour of RAF Valley, which included the introduction of canine . security patrols, these dogs and with their handlers, were not solely . assigned to HRH The Duke of Cambridge as personal protection. ‘The . timing of their sad demise was purely coincidental. The MoD’s policy is . to re-home all military working dogs at the end of their service life . wherever practicable.  These dogs had a record of veterinary and . behavioural issues which meant that they could not be reassigned to . other duties and they were too aggressive to be kept at home.’
Prince left his role as a search and rescue pilot in North Wales last week .
Within days of his last shift, his two guard dogs were destroyed on Friday .
MoD said Belgian shepherd Brus had 'come to the end of his work life’ while German shepherd Blade couldn't be reassigned to other duties .
Outraged charities and activists say decision was 'euthanasia of convenience'
By . Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 18:03 EST, 18 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:06 EST, 19 September 2013 . A decision to destroy two RAF dogs that guarded Prince William just days after he quit the service has angered animal experts and upset staff on his former base. Brus, a Belgian Shepherd, and Blade, a German Shepherd, were put down on Friday, shortly after the prince completed his final shift as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey. Charities said the animals had been disposed of like a piece of worn-out military kit while one animal behaviour expert suggested the decision was ‘a euthanasia of convenience’. The dead dogs were among 288 that the  Ministry of Defence has put down in the last ten years. Protected: Prince William's two RAF guard dogs, Belgium shepherd Brus, pictured right, and German shepherd Blade were destroyed on Friday just a few days after he left the service . Base workers pointed out they had been . very  popular and said animal-lover William – who has a dog of his own – . may also have been shocked by their fate. They were part of a unit brought in to . provide additional security while the second in line to the throne was . based at RAF Valley. A . Ministry of Defence spokesman last night insisted that the decision to . destroy the dogs was ‘entirely coincidental’ and that the animals could . not be rehomed or redeployed because of medical and behavioural issues. But . the decision was the talk of the air base yesterday. One member of . staff said William – who has a spaniel, Lupo – could often be seen . giving the dogs a pat. ‘Everyone is talking about the dogs and people are upset they’ve been put down,’ the staff member said. ‘I . saw William stroke the German Shepherd a few times and made a fuss of . him. They were really popular and William always said hello to all the . handlers.’ Dog lover William, pictured here with pet Lupo, hasn't commented on the death of Brus, (right) who the MoD says became too aggressive . Local resident . Huw Williams, 59, added: ‘I know a few of the lads on the base and I . know the dogs were well liked there. One told me  William would often go . and pat the dogs when he saw them. I bet he will be sad that they . couldn’t have found a safe home.’ Kensington Palace declined to comment yesterday, saying the issue was a matter for the MoD. William . had been based at RAF Valley since 2010. He completed his last flight . as a Sea King pilot nine days ago and has now officially left the . military. Blade and Brus were in a two-dog section set up to patrol the . airbase during the future king’s deployment. They patrolled the station . to protect military personnel, equipment and facilities. But once the . prince left the unit was closed,’ a source said. The . two animals were assessed by a squadron inspector to see if they could . be returned to the Defence Animal Centre, which helps train new . handlers. But they were both deemed unsuitable. Blade, nine and a half, . suffered from osteoarthritis in the hips and had been diagnosed with the . onset of a spinal condition, which is common in German Shepherds of . that age. It was decided he should be destroyed for medical reasons. Brus, . seven and a half, was said to display high levels of stress which . resulted in him ‘self-harming and displaying excessive aggression’. He . was deemed ‘a risk to himself, his handler and others’. Family first: Prince William left the RAF to spend more time with wife Kate and their baby son George . But . animal behaviour expert Dr Roger Mugford commented: ‘Behavioural . problems are often used as a bland excuse for putting dogs to sleep. What you have to do is work hard at making their environment better for . them. It begs the question, would these dogs still be alive if Prince . William was at the base? It sounds sound like a euthanasia of . convenience.’ A spokesman . for the Dogs Trust charity said: ‘Dogs are not pieces of disposable kit . that can be decommissioned at the end of their useful military life. We . fully understand that most service dogs cannot be rehomed as pets. Deployment to another role or retirement to a specialist handler are two . alternative options.’  A spokesman from People for the Ethical . Treatment of Animals said: ‘Dogs are not tools and are not ours to use . and toss away like empty ammunition shells.’ Asked . by the Mail whether both dogs were deemed healthy and fit to work up . until the time they were destroyed despite the issues they were said to . have suffered from, an MoD spokesman said: ‘I don’t think we are in a . position to confirm this.’ An . RAF spokesman said: ‘Whilst security was increased during Prince . William’s tour of RAF Valley, which included the introduction of canine . security patrols, these dogs and with their handlers, were not solely . assigned to HRH The Duke of Cambridge as personal protection. ‘The . timing of their sad demise was purely coincidental. The MoD’s policy is . to re-home all military working dogs at the end of their service life . wherever practicable.  These dogs had a record of veterinary and . behavioural issues which meant that they could not be reassigned to . other duties and they were too aggressive to be kept at home.’
completed his final shift as a search and rescue expert suggested the decision was ‘a euthanasia last ten years. Protected: Prince William's two RAF guard dogs, Belgium shepherd Brus, pictured right, and German shepherd Blade were destroyed on Friday just a few days after he left the like a euthanasia of . convenience.’ A spokesman decommissioned at the end of their useful reassigned to . other duties and they were too