In a campaign reminiscent of Lord Kitchener's rousing "Your Country Needs You" appeal, the Ministry of Defence is on the lookout for four-legged recruits.

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and competition from the police and prison service for unwanted family pets, has led to a dwindling pool of animals to draw from.

The military's Defence Animal Centre (DAC), in Melton, has now launched its own "Your Country Needs Your Dog" campaign.

The slogan can be found on vans used to transport the animals.

The centre needs German or Belgian shepherd dogs to work as patrol or attack dogs and English springers spaniels to beef up its regiment of sniffer dogs.

Labradors, other spaniels and crossbreeds between the ages of one and three years are also needed. The dogs will perform vital frontline roles, guarding bases or searching out arms and explosives and drugs.

Major Chris Ham, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, is the officer commanding the canine division at the Defence Animal Centre.

He said: "The dogs are employed throughout the world for defence needs. They are life-saving pieces of equipment and are much sought-after by ourselves and the other uniformed services.

"The working dogs are appreciated by the soldiers on the ground and the Royal Army Veterinary Corps working dog units have been expanded to meet that growing demand for the use of dogs on operations. We need to get as many dogs as we can and the need is there all the time.

"Much of what they do is front-line work. We are looking for dogs that want to get involved willingly in the tasks we need them to perform.

"The dogs are given a full veterinary inspection and assessed for their suitability to military life.

"Not all dogs make it and some have to go back to their original owners or are found new homes."

Major Ham conceded that publicity last year about some of the military kennels at the base having been declared unfit had also hit recruiting numbers.

About 80 of the 200 dogs are living in private kennels while work goes on to bring kennels at the base up to standard. He said: "Although the kennels were found to be below industry standard, our care and welfare for the animals remains the same.

"Everybody is working hard to get the kennels sorted out, but our care for the dogs has never been compromised."

The perils of life as a military working dog were reflected last week when Toby, an army sniffer dog working in Afghanistan, ate what experts think may have been an explosive. He was picked up by a medical emergency helicopter and whisked back to Camp Bastion.

He was treated on a drip with charcoal to soak up the poison and given drugs to control the swelling on his brain, which was causing fits.

Just 24 hours after being treated, Toby was in good spirits.

Maj Ham added: "Dogs are like soldiers; they get injured once in a blue moon. All the necessary equipment and veterinary surgeons are on hand to treat them."

Anyone who wants to donate a dog should call 01664 418615 or 418668 or visit the website.