Eastbourne Crufts winners up for two national awards

Barry Coase and Bella, his five-year-old Bichon Frise, are finalists for the Soldiering On Awards and the Veterans Awards.

Bella helps her owner and other ex-servicemen to cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

At Crufts 2019 they were named the HiLife Pets As Therapy Dog of the Year.

For the Soldiering On Awards, Barry and Bella are up for the animal partnership award.

This honours the companionship that animals can provide to people, and specifically the achievements of individuals or organisations engaged with animals that support members of the armed forces community.

Up against three other finalists, the winners will be presented with their trophy at a small celebratory lunch before Christmas – a big change from the usual awards ceremony.

Organisers have said that when they arrange the 2021 awards, all 2020 finalists will be included in the usual ‘glittering event’.

Barry and Bella are also up for the volunteer of the year award for the Veterans Awards.

This is awarded to a veteran that has volunteered their time and made an impact on others through their work.

Living with PTSD himself, Barry spends his spare time volunteering with Bella at a number of charities including Combat Stress and The Blue Van Veterans drop-in centre. As well as this, they also visit hospitals and schools.

Barry got Bella as a rescue dog when he was struggling with PTSD.

He said, “Bella has helped me through some very troubled times, and we have an incredibly strong bond.

“We rescued her at the age of 20 weeks, and up until that time, she had herself suffered a sad and unsettled past. She was fearful and very timid.

“Within days however we became aware of Bella’s therapeutic qualities, demonstrating the ability to calm me through nightmares and to help me feel safe and secure.

“I felt that I needed to share this incredible little dog with others who may be suffering sadness, anxiety, depression or loneliness.”

From this ‘therapeutic qualities’ Barry decided to train Bella as a therapy dog to help others.

They give veterans the opportunity to relax and open up about their struggles whilst stroking Bella. Bella puts them at ease whilst Barry is able to encourage them to talk about their issues, building rapport from shared experiences.

Barry has recently also become an ambassador for the Military Veterans Creative Arts charity.

The ultimate aim for Barry is to set up a ‘buddy system’ whereby other veterans can train their own dogs for therapeutic support for themselves as well as others.

He said, “Our ethos relates to building confidence, promoting a sense of belonging and comradeship, decrease isolation, increase a sense of self-worth, rebuild self-esteem and help to instil purpose into people’s lives.

“I am humbled and completely overwhelmed to have been nominated.

“It remains a pleasure and is cathartic to be able to offer a small degree of happiness and positivity to our military veterans’ community.”

Both award results are pending and anyone wanting to keep up-to-date can check the award pages:

https://www.soldieringon.org/2020-winners-ceremonies-schedule/

https://veteransawards.co.uk/english-veterans-awards/