Tuesday April 3 8:00 AM ET
Dogs on Front Line of Cost Battle 

LONDON (Reuters) - British military chiefs have ordered the armed forces
to keep a tight leash on spending -- by getting cheaper food bowls for
their dogs.

The Defense Ministry said Tuesday the 15.28 pounds ($21.73) stainless
steel bowls used to feed the armed forces' 2,000 dogs were far too
expensive and would be replaced by ordinary 1.80 pounds ($2.56) pet bowls.

``The last order placed was for 250 of these bowls, so it is clear that
even on one order, there is a saving of several thousand pounds,'' a
spokesman told Reuters.

A command had gone out to British forces stationed around the world to opt
for cheap local bowls in future, instead of the expensive steel variety
which were sourced from a medical supplier, he said.

The dogs are mainly used to protect military bases, but some are trained
as sniffer dogs to detect mines and drugs. One dog unit is working in
Kenya helping local police track down ivory poachers. 

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