Faithful companions

Off By Ed Hanna

Based in Scotland, assistance dogs charity, Bravehound, supports Veterans from all three branches of the Armed Forces who live with psychological and sometimes additional physical injury or cognitive impairment as a result of experiences during their Military service. Families are also deeply affected and so Bravehound supports family members as well.

Bravehound aims to support Veterans by partnering them with assistance dogs and providing the required training and welfare support over each dog’s lifetime. Our social and outdoor activities bring communities together and are a focus for making new friends and strengthening relationships.

One of the Veterans we support is Archie Douglas, who retired as a Major in the King’s Own Scottish Boarderers, following diagnosis of a brain tumour, which was due to a blunt force head injury during his Military service. Bravehound has trained assistance dog, Cocoa, to accompany Archie wherever he goes, serving as an alert dog, should Archie’s brain ‘trip’.

Archie’s condition means risk of collapse and a need for help to be summoned. Bravehound trained Cocoa to stay with Archie and bark, in order to gain attention, but once approached by a person, to stop barking and be quiet and calm, so that the message to summon help printed on her coat, can be read and acted upon.

Independence
This gives Archie freedom and independence as well as peace of mind for him and his wife. Archie is able to play golf, practise the organ, enjoy walking and to return to ambitious projects planned before his illness to help and inspire others. As Archie says: “Bravehound has made life better, much better.”

Bravehound is limited in the number of Veterans it is able to support by the need to secure sufficient funding for long term and intensive commitment to each Veteran and Bravehound dog. We have a waiting list of Veterans needing our support and currently are unable to accept new applications.

If you would like to find out more about Bravehound and help us to support more Veterans like Archie, do please get in touch.

We are currently looking for a new home in Scotland’s central belt region and expertise and advice is as valuable as direct financial support, so if you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.