Canine Heroes

The Veterans With Dogs charity provides unique support for former service personnel. CLAIRE SAUL talks to founder Craig MacLellan

- Claire Saul

DURING the First World War the elegant Seale-Hayne College near Newton Abbot became a military hospital, treating soldiers suffering from what was then referred to as ‘shell shock’. One century on, the building once again assists veterans living with service-related mental illness, as the location of the Veterans With Dogs charity.

Founder Craig MacLellan served his country twice, latterly with the Army in Northern Ireland. Emotionally scarred by the horrific experiences he witnessed there, he left the forces for a different career. Five years later, he began to suffer severe and debilitating panic attacks, subsequently diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“One day when I was at my lowest, I was out with my labrador Fudge on a walk that we did quite regularly and I had thoughts of where I would go to take my own life,” explains Craig.

“Just before we reached this place Fudge went completely stiff and absolutely refused to let me go any further. We had walked there before – and have many times since – without any problem, but that day she was adamant that I was not going to continue along that path. We walked back the other way. She stopped me taking my life that day.”