‘SHE OPENED UP THE WORLD TO ME’ ASSISTANCE DOG WHO HELPED AUTISTIC OWNER THROUGH LABOUR IS NAMED UK’S PET OF THE YEAR

A two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier has been named the UK’s Pet of the Year after she helped her autistic owner through labour.

Earlier this year, Belle served as a birthing partner to owner Amee Tomkin, 33, who has severe anxiety and ADHD.

Belle accompanied Amee through fertility treatment, as well as scans and midwife appointments during her pregnancy.

The dog was so well behaved that Milton Keynes University Hospital, allowed her to support nervous Amee on the maternity ward before she had a caesarean section in April.

Loyal pooch Belle was even waiting for Amee as she came out of theatre and was the first to meet Olly, her newborn son, in April 2023.

As a result, Vets Now has selected the sweet staffie as the winner of their annual Pet of the Year competition over thousands of other entries.

Speaking to the Milton Keynes Citizen, Amee revealed how Belle has ‘opened the whole world’ for her and given her the confidence she needed to become a mother.

As her OCD can make shopping difficult at times, Belle will often take Amee’s bank card in her mouth and tap the machine to pay for food shops.

She explained: ‘If Belle senses me getting anxious, she’ll jump up and put her head on me to rub, which is really calming.

‘She grounds me so I can take a breath and carry on.’

As well as acting as a therapy dog for the charity Canine Concern, Belle also takes part in the Barks to Read programme at a local primary school.

Commenting on Belle’s win, Amee said: ‘I could never have done any of the things I have without Belle and I’m so pleased and proud that she has won the Pet of the Year award.’

What’s more, Head of Telehealth at Video Vet Now service Dave Leicester said the team were ‘incredibly moved’ by how Belle has supported Amee.

He added: ‘Belle is an outstanding example of the special bond owners can have with their pets, which goes far beyond companionship.’

Reflecting on her pregnancy and experience of childbirth, Amee previously said: ‘Belle was waiting patiently in the hospital room when I went to theatre to have my baby.

‘And when I was wheeled back, she was the first to meet Olly – I couldn’t have done it without her.’

Since she was a tiny pup, Belle has been trained by Amee to be an assistance dog, helping her deal with her anxiety, autism and panic attacks.

And Amee said it was clear from the beginning that Belle was a natural at assisting her.

For the past eighteen months, the pup has accompanied Amee wherever she goes – and when she fell pregnant with her son Olly, after 12 years of fertility treatment, nothing changed.

She attended all her pregnancy scans with her, where doctors decided that a C-section would be better for Amee’s autism and anxiety, because she would know exactly what was happening.

Amee said: ‘Belle can detect symptoms of a panic attack, and does things like help me find exits in crowded places if she senses I’m feeling anxious.

‘She presses buttons on lifts and she even holds my debit card against the machine to pay for things when we’re shopping.

‘Basically, without her, I’m too anxious to leave the house. I’d just stay indoors all day and every day.

‘She came with me to all my appointments during my pregnancy and kept me calm – I couldn’t have done it without her.’

The prospect of giving birth without Belle by her side was worrying for Amee, so her midwife asked Milton Keynes University Hospital if she could accompany her on the ward.

Once the green light was given, doctors allowed the dog to sleep on Amee’s hospital bed.

She rested her nose gently on her bump, near her belly button.

Amee said: ‘It was as though she was checking the baby’s heartbeat when I was pregnant.

‘She even learned to tell the difference between the baby’s heartbeat and my own. It was such a reassurance.

‘Belle was allowed to stay with me before I went went to theatre and we were given our own room so she could stay with me and the baby afterwards.

‘As soon as she saw Olly, she gently sniffed him then gave his face a tiny lick to welcome him. Since then she has never left his side.’