The Forgotten Heroes in Fur and Feather: Honouring the Purple Poppy

Each November, we wear a red poppy to honour the brave men and women who served and continue to serve our country. But there’s another poppy you may not have heard of, one that represents a different kind of hero. One who couldn’t raise their hand, didn’t get a choice, but gave their lives anyway.

The Purple Poppy is worn to commemorate the animals who served alongside our soldiers in times of war and conflict. Horses. Dogs. Pigeons. Even camels and elephants. Their loyalty never wavered. They carried messages, pulled heavy equipment, stood watch, and offered comfort, often on the front lines. Many never returned home.

This isn’t about taking away from the meaning of the red poppy. Far from it. It’s about deepening our understanding of remembrance. It’s about recognizing that some of the sacrifices made during war came from those who had no voice at all and still gave everything.

Horses and mules carried supplies across impossible terrain, often with no food or water of their own.

Pigeons flew thousands of miles with crucial messages, many injured in flight or never making it home.

Dogs located wounded soldiers, warned of incoming danger, and provided immeasurable emotional support.

One story that’s always stuck with me is that of a dog named Gander, a Newfoundland from Canada. Gander was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal (often called the animal Victoria Cross) for grabbing a live grenade and running with it away from his unit, saving several lives and giving his own in the process.

Zaner and many of our furry family members will never see a battlefield. But that doesn’t mean we forget those who did.

This Remembrance Day, as we honour the veterans who wore boots, let’s also take a quiet moment to remember those who wore paws, feathers, or hooves and served just as bravely.

Because they too, gave their all.