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Animal Partnership Award – Sponsored by Pets at Home

Winner selected by Public Vote – CLICK  HERE TO VOTE

Bravehound: Paul Wilkie & Irma 

Bravehound is a Scottish charity supporting former service men and women and their families, providing trained dogs to support veterans.

Paul was a Royal Engineer, serving in Ireland, Bosnia and the Falklands.

A few years ago Paul began suffering PTSD very badly when the thoughts and experiences of those times started to debilitate him.

Paul’s marriage broke down and he was homeless. He lived in a tent in the woods. Until a chance encounter saw Bravehound stepping in and giving Paul a house and a dog called Irma. Irma is the first designed dog to support the relief from symptoms of PTSD.

Paul’s animal partner Irma kick started a belief in himself. Irma awakens Paul when he has flashbacks and never left his side in the hospital other than ICU. He was in a coma for 10 days after medical issues took hold and was given 36hrs to live. Irma stayed by his side. He made it out and now they both have a companion in North – one of 3 Ducks. They also have a cat. Caring for them has helped Paul tremendously and is now getting life back on track. Him and Irma both deserve the animal partnership award.

 

Service Dogs UK: Mark Lanchbery & Jerry 

Service Dogs UK is a charity that not only offer help and support to service men and women but also give a purpose and loving home to rescue dogs across the country.

Mark Lanchbery served in the Army and was injured in conflict and advised that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Eventually he was able to walk with the aid of a stick and without a wheelchair. He went on to push himself to new limits and with his ‘Band of Brothers’ competed at the ‘Warrior Games’ representing the UK in Archery. During a counselling session Mark was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mark lived alone and began training with Service Dogs UK with his loyal companion Jerry and they became a successful assistance dog partnership team in September 2016.

Mark is now enrolled on the Service Dogs UK mentor programme and is dedicating his time, effort and considerable skills in helping to run the Service Dogs UK training programme and acting as a mentor. He now mentors fellow veterans on the Service Dogs UK programme which trains rescue dogs to become Assistance Dogs.

He is highly respected by the other veterans, and rightly so. Recently diagnosed with MS, Mark continues to battle on providing strength, hope and inspiration to all those around him. He is nominated for his indomitable spirit, his kindness and the genuine love for his fellow veterans which motivates him to give so much of himself for their sake.

 

Veterans for Wildlife

Veterans for Wildlife are an international charity empowering and enabling veterans to aid in the prevention of wildlife crime, with the mission to protect, educate and empower!

The charity deploys highly trained and skilled former service personnel to provide support against poaching and trafficking of some of the planet’s most endangered species. In doing so Veterans for Wildlife aim to play a key role in conservation and the prevention of wildlife crime.

Veterans for Wildlife send highly skilled and knowledgeable veterans to train and support rangers in Africa. By using Veterans they are also helping the veteran both mentally and physically in adjusting to civilian life and importantly realising their self worth. In doing so they are supporting Rangers against the poaching of the world’s most beautiful and endangered species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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