Dogs With Jobs
Lorna Cowan is introduced to Bella, a small Bichon Frise with a very important job as a PTSD assistance dog.
IT’S often said that the best things in life come in small packages. That’s certainly what Barry Coase from Eastbourne believes, as the ex-serviceman’s assistance dog is a cute little Bichon Frise called Bella. With guidance from Psychiatric Dogs UK, Bella has undertaken extensive training to reach the required standards to become an owner-trained post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assistance dog, and she’s Barry’s four-legged hero.
“I remember once having a panic attack in the town that was very busy with shoppers,” he says. “I could feel my heart pounding and I felt unable to breathe. Bella picked up on this very quickly and edged me towards a wall where I knelt down.
“She placed her paws on my knees and did not break eye contact with me. I was able to concentrate on her eyes and this helped to ground me.
“She helps me come back from the past, into the here and now, and that makes me feel grounded in the present,” Barry continues.
“I now only have to point to my eyes and she will sit patiently giving me effective eye contact.
“Bella has helped me gain a degree of inner resilience and a sense of acceptance of my past.
“Today, with Bella’s support and encouragement, I’m capable of going to places that I would have previously avoided.”
Barry served in the military with 14th/20th King’s Hussars for 14 years and in 2018 was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).
“I struggled with anxiety and anger,” he reveals. “However, I was fortunate to be counselled by the NHS Transition Intervention Liaison Service (TILS).
“Bella was present throughout my sessions and helped to bring about comfort and a sense of wellbeing.
“She remains an important part of my healing process.”
Bella was only a tiny twenty-weekold pup when she was rescued by Barry and his family.
“She had a very difficult start in life. She was timid and skinny, as well as very unkempt and smelly. She appeared very fearful of humans.”
However, this made Barry all the more determined to give Bella a home and he soon realised just what a special dog she is.
“From the day we collected her she has always slept next to me. During the night, she would lick my left ear and then lick the back of my neck.
“She was actively waking me up from a nightmare and trying to calm me down.
“It was then that I realised what an empathetic little soul she was. I also became aware that I needed her as much as she needed me!”
Aged just nine months, Bella passed a Pets As Therapy assessment and started visiting schools and hospitals, bringing much joy and comfort to children and patients.
Aware of the little dog’s warm demeanour and calm temperament, Barry then contacted Combat Stress, a charity that offers specialist treatment and support for veterans.
“Acknowledging Bella’s ability to help me, I realised that I needed to share her incredible therapeutic qualities with fellow veterans who also suffer with their mental health.
“I wrote to Combat Stress offering to visit and we are now accepted as part of the clinical therapeutic team. We try to undertake monthly visits or more often as required.”
Barry explains that when veterans are starting their course of treatment, they can feel an array of emotions, including apprehension, fear, anger and sadness. Some have dogs at home whom they miss dearly.
“Bella appears able to easily sense who needs support the most and approaches them.
“If they wish to pet Bella, she will sit at their side for as long as they desire, often giving deep pressure therapy, which helps the veteran experience a sense of calm.
“If a veteran does not feel at a stage where they wish to interact, Bella simply moves on.
“We sit with the veterans, gauge the atmosphere and when appropriate we chat, laugh, joke and enjoy all the old familiar military banter, something that feels so comforting to anyone who is ex-military.
“From here, we can soon establish a rapport to help veterans through the first stages of treatment by means of effective communication.
“Bella’s visits can be the start of a talking point and is viewed as a very positive approach to treatment.”
Barry says that the team at Combat Stress are incredible in their care and compassion for veterans. However, as with many charities, there is little financial resource.
“When we are not at the treatment centre, we fundraise and promote awareness at our local supermarkets and at the annual Eastbourne International Airshow.”
He also raises funds and supports the Blue Van Veterans Drop-in Centre.
“This is an Eastbourne charity run by veterans for veterans, helping local ex-servicemen with issues relating to welfare, mental health and finance.
“Bella is a vital part in helping people to feel relaxed when first coming into the centre. She also helps to signpost new members to the benefits of Combat Stress.”
Through Bella’s work at Combat Stress, Barry was fortunate to meet a young veteran who was in residence for treatment.
“We’d a visit planned but due to a family emergency we had to rearrange,” he recalls.
“This young lad wrote on social media about his sadness that Bella hadn’t turned up. He’d had a difficult session in therapy and was so looking forward to seeing her.
“We went to the centre later in the week and he was thrilled.
“He hugged Bella silently for a long while, buried in his thoughts, and then announced that he needed ‘a Bella in his life’. He felt this was what his life was lacking.”
After much searching, a Bichon Frise just like Bella was found.
“This fine young man now has a little dog who comforts him, just as Bella calms me.
“I feel this is such an incredible achievement and goes to show the power of dogs. I do believe all dogs are therapy – just some are more undercover than others.” ■