As Australia and New Zealand observes Anzac day on Wednesday, RSPCA Australia is pushing for the inclusion of dogs and other military animals in the annual parade.

By allowing these animals to join future Anzac day parades, it would acknowledge the roles they played on the day of remembrance for the fallen and those who returned. RSPCA President Hugh Wirth pointed out that hundreds of thousands of these animals joined troops as lifesavers and mates of Aussie soldiers in different wars the nation fought.

He cited horses that carried cavalry, pigeons that carried important messages and detector dogs that sniffed out enemies and bombs. Mr Wirth stressed Australians owe them a huge debt for their help in preserving soldiers' lives.

The animal welfare group has also been pushing the idea for about 10 years of an animal memorial at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

"I was present for the opening ceremony and it featured a re-enactment of the Light Hose with mounted troopers, the packed horses from World War II, and the brilliant bomb dogs straight out of Afghanistan," Mr Wirth recalled.

"But the most moving part of the ceremony was the release of the pigeons who flew around the dome of the memorial before heading home," he added.

The RSPCA has bestowed the Purple Cross, the highest bravery honour, to Sarbi - a bomb dog - who was lost and eventually found in Afghanistan.

He proposed the inclusion in the parade of animals on active service or those already retired.

"We are not asking for them to lead the parade... It is sufficient for them to bring up the rear," he added.

RSL State President David McLachlan promised Mr Wirth that he would study RSPCA's suggestion before the 2013 Anzac parade.

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