A HEROIC dog who served in Afghanistan and the army medic who adopted him after he became 'gunshy' paid their respects in Kingston during an emotional Remembrance Sunday Service yesterday.

Angie McDonnell, 48 made headlines in 2013 when she saved Vidar, 12, from being put down after the cuddly canine had to leave active service in the military.

Vidar, the 12-year-old Belgian Malanois, saved countless civilian and military lives in the 2 years he spent sniffing out weapons stashes and explosive devices in the Taliban-occupied country.

But the adorable pup had to be discharged from his role when he showed PTSD-like symptoms including a fear of explosions and gunshots.

One time, following a "massive explosion," Vidar couldn't be seen, Angie recalled.

"I found him in the back curled into a ball, just shaking," she told Nub News.

After bonding with the pup and following her seven-month tour of Afghanistan, Angie decided to re-home him and in 2014 the pair moved to Kingston, later moving slightly further out to Surbiton.

Asked about her time in Afghanistan, Angie said "I'd go back tomorrow."

"It's completely different to anything else...the time just flies by," she said. "You make friends for life."

Angie, an Army reservist whose "civvy" job is as a paramedic, usually parades with her regiment or visits the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Day.

But this year was different - due to Vidar's declining health.

The Malanois is now blind and gets around by buggy, and Angie fears she will lose him before the end of the year.

She wanted to mark Remembrance Sunday with him and dad Mick as a three before Vidar passes away.

Mick, who usually watches Angie at the Cenotaph service, told Nub News his daughter had been at the Albert Hall the night before for the Festival of Remembrance, and has also met royalty including Prince Harry and Princess Anne.

"I'm very proud of her," he beamed.

Angie's work saving Vidar helped raise awareness of what happens to dogs once they leave the military.

The army have now set up a rehoming service so that no healthy dog is put down after being discharged.

Angie is also keen to highlight the unique role played by dogs like Vidar in conflict as the animals can perform tasks that would require astonishing bravery from humans.

Working as a High Assurance Search Dog (HASD) Vidar found Improvised Explosive Devices which could then be safely dealt with.

"The dogs don't understand what they're doing - to them it's 'find something, get a reward,'" she said. "But we know we could step on that. We have that fear factor."

But Vidar later came to fear the "big bang" that would happen after he found a device.

In contrast, other dogs can carry on doing their work without being so badly affected - including Vidar's brother Vroom who served until the age of 10 and died two weeks ago.

Photos of Vroom and other heroic dogs lost in conflict adorned a wreath laid at Kingston war memorial yesterday by Angie and Mick on behalf of the Kingston Working Men's Club.

Angie also laid a wreath with photos of friends Channing Day and David Connor, both killed on the tour in Afghanistan nine years ago.

She became emotional remembering the times she'd seen families who'd lost loved ones paying their respects at the Cenotaph in London.

"It happens every time," she said, wiping away a tear.

"I try to instil this in younger soldiers - today is not about us. It's about the ones who can't be here."

Missed yesterday's Remembrance Service? Kingston Nub News recorded the whole thing and you can watch it on our Facebook page HERE