How a street dog saved my life...
Years spent battling undiagnosed autism and PTSD left Tess Eagle Swan in a dark place. Here, she explains how a Romanian rescue pup brought her back from the brink
We are known as a nation of dog lovers. But for Tess Eagle Swan, that bond is more profound than most. She says she owes Kratu, her rescue Romanian street dog, her life.
“Without this dog I’d be dead,” says Tess, 58, who lives in Cambridgeshire.
Growing up with undiagnosed autism, Tess suffered much trauma in her early years.
After her dad died from cancer when she was 16, Tess left home in Hertfordshire and moved into a filthy South London punk squat.
“My teenage years were immensely painful,” she explains.
“I was autistic, but didn’t know it. I just thought I was different. I was trying to work through emotions I didn’t understand. And as a result I was written off as no good and trouble.”
When her boyfriend died of a drug overdose, Tess became addicted to heroin.
“It was a respite from the pain,” she says. “I tried to take my own life several times. I encountered abuse and violence along the way.”
In 2009, Tess contracted hepatitis C, which she says was a wake-up call.
“I got clean and then moved. But by this point I had lost all trust and faith in the human race. I did not understand people.”
In 2011 Tess became only the second person in the world to be offered a new treatment for hepatitis C, and 18 months later tested clear. During this time she adopted two dogs, Paco and Maia.
But something was missing.
“So, nine years ago, I asked my friend, who rescues dogs in Romania, to look for one for me,” says Tess. And she found him – a tiny puppy called Kratu. He came to the UK aged four months.
“It was love at first sight,” says Tess. “He was a delight. The way he viewed the world with joy and happiness. He brought light and a new beginning.”
Overnight, the shaggy dog inspired change in Tess.
“I woke up and realised I loved life instead of hating it. That is a very powerful transformation.”
Training gave Tess a sense of purpose.
“It became apparent I had work to do. I wanted him to fit in, although I never had, so we kept training.
“The more effort I put into him, learning about his emotional needs, the more I forgot about my own struggles.
“The more we did the more we connected. We learned to love new things, experiences, outings and training.
“And the more we did, the more I was learning about love. To see Kratu look at me with happiness and love was a new, delightful thing. It made me reciprocate.”
Tess, who trained Kratu to be her assistance dog, began to document her journey on social media, and the @incrediblekratu account now has more than 10,000 followers. In 2017, showcasing his training, Kratu made his first charity appearance at Crufts as part of the Wood Green rescue dog agility team.
But it was his appearance at the show the following year that went viral. The cheeky pup became an instant hit when he ignored the course route, did a U-turn in the tunnel, and ran off with a pole. “Kratu is a force of nature whose spirit cannot be contained. He is so funny,” says Tess.
Commentator Peter Purves said of Kratu: “He can do all sorts of things, except, er, follow instructions.”
Tess was diagnosed with autism in 2018, and says the revelation was hard to take.
“I lay on the kitchen floor and cried,” she says. “It made me think everything that happened to me when I was young was because of me.”
But she caught a glimpse of Kratu and in that moment felt the strength to get up.
“He knows me, and I know him. It was like he knew I needed cheering up,” she says. “Out of the corner of my eye I saw him – bum wiggling in the air. It made me smile and made me feel like I can do this.”
Tess credits Kratu with helping her live her life as normally as she can. Before he came along she found it hard to leave the house. “Being my assistance dog, he comes to the supermarket. He likes to check out the dog food aisle,” she says. “People’s eyes light up when they meet him, and they walk away with a smile. You never know what someone is going through. Maybe they’re lonely or having a bad day.”
Tess still suffers from PTSD. “When I have PTSD nightmares and terrors, I put a hand out to touch him and he puts his paw on my hand. We stay like that until the demons have left,” she says.
“Then he will climb up on the bed and plop himself down, next to me. Back to back. He has my back. I have his.
“I hope talking about Kratu and I brings hope to people and inspires others to rescue dogs.
“My boy gave me my life back. He believed and trusted in me and that fuelled my fire to keep going.
“For the first time in my life I was seen through the eyes of unconditional love, no judgment, total acceptance.
“Kratu is my best friend, partner in crime, soulmate and family. Not to mention the best teacher in life I have ever come across.
“I am so grateful for this incredible dog.”
He believed and trusted in me and that fuelled my fire to keep going
For many of us, this summer will be the first time in three long years that we’ve had a proper sunshine holiday. But if you’re worried your beach clothes might not fit like they used to, you’re not alone.
If you’d like to lose weight and hit the beach feeling fitter and healthier, these top tips from Slimming World can get you on track for your best summer yet.
Set a goal
Research shows that setting a goal makes you more likely to achieve what you want.
A study of 24,000 slimmers by Slimming World found those who set an ambitious target weight lost almost twice as much as those who aimed for a more modest amount.
“Setting an ambitious target can help you visualise what you’re capable of,” says Slimming World’s head of research and scientific affairs Dr Jacquie Lavin.
She also recommends having mini targets, whether it’s to lose a couple of pounds, go for a lunchtime walk or cook with new ingredients.
“Your big goal is your destination and mini targets are milestones along the way. Every time you achieve one it will give you a sense of achievement and motivate you on to the next step.”
Get active
Make the most of longer days and warmer weather and head out for some fresh-air fitness.
A study from the University of Exeter shows that compared to indoor workouts, exercising in a natural environment is associated with greater feelings of happiness and wellbeing, as well as increased energy levels. Outdoor exercisers also report greater enjoyment and satisfaction from their workouts and feel more inclined to keep it up – and you’ll be boosting your immune system and topping up vitamin D levels.
There are many activities you can enjoy outdoors this spring from walking the dog to family bike rides and park runs.
Kitchen creative
Discover your inner chef and cook meals from scratch with healthy seasonal ingredients like asparagus, spring greens and new potatoes, or dig out the barbecue and grill some lean meat, fish and veg.
And remember, losing weight doesn’t have to mean going hungry.
A study by the University of Leeds found that eating a diet based around low energy density foods – those that contain fewer calories per gram such as fresh fruit and veg, lean meat and poultry, pasta, rice and grains – is more effective for weight loss than traditional calorie counting. In fact, a group of women who followed Slimming World’s low energy density eating plan for 14 weeks lost more than 12lbs compared to just 7lbs in a group using a calorie-counting diet plan.
Visit slimmingworld.co.uk to find plenty of recipe ideas.
Have a spritz
There’s nothing nicer than sitting outdoors on a sunny afternoon enjoying a drink with friends, yet alcohol can be a real obstacle if you’re trying to lose weight. Calories in drinks are often higher than we realise (one large glass of wine has as many calories as a jam doughnut).
Slimming World’s research into the impact of alcohol on weight revealed having just slightly too much and reaching our “tipping point” can lead us into drinking and eating far more than we intended.
The good news is that by making small changes to your drinking habits, you can still enjoy alcohol in moderation and manage your “tipping point” and weight loss.
‘‘ An ambitious target can help you visualise what you’re capable of
Carolyn Pallister, nutrition and health policy manager at Slimming World, says: “Interspersing alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, adding soda water to wine to make a spritzer, switching to slimline mixers or choosing low-calorie lager can make a big difference.”
Spring clean your habits
We’re all creatures of habit and having a routine can be a lifesaver when busy.
You’re more likely to exercise regularly if you do it at the same time every week – and having a set day for batch cooking can help you plan for the week ahead. But researchers from University of Hertfordshire found that when routines get overly rigid, they can act like webs, making it hard to change a habit even if we know it’s not helpful. Having a spring clean of your habits can help you chase your weight loss goals with renewed focus.
Carolyn says: “At Slimming World we’ve got a deep understanding of the psychology behind successful weight loss, and our groups are all about getting support to build healthy new habits around food and activity.
“It’s so much easier to achieve when you have the support of a group of like-minded people who care about your success.”