Dogs help put lives back on track

A year ago, Maj Katrina Adie’s world was shrinking.

She worked from home and struggled to go outside.

“My 13-year-old son was noticing a lot. I couldn’t do things with him,” Maj Adie said.

Then she was paired with Flora, a black Labrador retriever from Defence Community Dogs, and things took a turn for the better.

“She has changed my life,” Maj Adie said.

Over the past 10 years, Defence Community Dogs has helped more than 120 current and former service personnel who need emotional support for mood, depressive and anxiety disorders, including PTSD.

The organisation trains assistance dogs and pairs them with serving personnel and veterans at no cost.

Dogs come from all walks of life – some have been rehomed and rescued, others are guide, hearing or assistance dogs.

Dogs come from all walks of life – some have been rehomed and rescued, others are guide, hearing or assistance dogs.

But before the dogs are paired with a veteran, they all receive training at Bathurst Correctional Centre.

Selected inmates spend 24 hours a day with the animals, teaching them to detect signs of nervousness and anxiety, such as a shaking foot, and to intervene if the situation escalates.

The dogs will jump on their owner if the owner does not calm down and can wake them during nightmares.

Maj Adie said Flora spent 488 days in Bathurst Correctional Centre.

“I can enjoy life again and I’m back in the office,” she said.

Defence Community Dogs was founded in 2016.

Co-founder and chief executive officer Leanne Kyle said the 10-year milestone belonged to every veteran, dog, trainer and person who supported the organisation over the past decade.

She said if anyone knew a veteran who would benefit from a PTSD assistance dog, they could contact Defence Community Dogs to find out how to receive a fully trained dog at no extra cost.

“For people who’ve hit the stage where they’re not sleeping, socially disconnected and struggling with PTSD, this is a really good alternative for them to look at,” Mrs Kyle said.

“I’ve had wives run across the room and hug me, saying, ‘Thank you for giving my husband back and my children’s dad back’.”