Click right here to enroll to our free newsletters!
A FORRES warfare veteran who struggled with PTSD has hailed life-changing help supplied to him by a help canine from Scottish charity Bravehound.
Ex-army Staff Sergeant Scott McCaig (50) joined the navy after leaving faculty on the age of 16.
During his 27 years of service, he was stationed all around the world in locations like Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He mentioned: “On February 24, 2003, we were deployed into Kuwait when the second Gulf War started.
“That’s when I started to feel unwell. There were things that we had seen that didn’t leave you.
“From there, I went off and did a further three tours out in Afghanistan and it was during my third tour that a serious incident happened and I was removed from theatre.
“I ended up mixing a litre bottle of vodka and a box of Zopiclone sleeping tablets to cope with the fact that I did not want to be here anymore.”
Mr McCaig was medically discharged in July 2016 after receiving a prognosis for acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
He received in contact with Bravehound after listening to of the work that they had achieved for navy veterans with PTSD and bodily illnesses.
The charity works throughout Scotland with veterans from the three branches of the armed forces and matches them with specially-trained help dogs.
Their dogs are skilled to determine and interrupt flashbacks and nightmares, retrieve medicine, alert individuals to get assist and put themselves between somebody making an attempt to enter a veteran’s private house.
For veterans, these dogs can provide them function and confidence and, for some, even imply the distinction between life and demise
It was via the charity that, in 2021, Mr McCaig acquired his help canine and finest pal, a golden retriever named Paisley.
Paisley has modified his life and since they met, the pair have been inseparable.
“I have been through two flashbacks in my sleep where I have been experiencing sights, sounds, smells, vivid, vivid dreams that I am back somewhere that I shouldn’t be,” Scott added.
“On those occasions, I felt like there was a weighted blanket on my chest, which was Paisley!
“She brought me out of flashbacks and was lying on top of me, licking my face with her head on my chest.
“Before Paisley arrived, I could not leave the house myself and couldn’t interact with my own family and others in general.
“Having Paisley has changed everything and I am now able to do all these things.
“Bravehound has helped me to get my life back.”
The charity began their Back A Bravehound crowdfunding attraction on September 6 and goals to boost £10,000
The money will go in the direction of coaching a help canine for a veteran in want.
Former TV presenter Carol Smilie is supporting the charity on their two month marketing campaign and encourages the general public to become involved.
She mentioned: “As a dog lover, I know just how much a dog can bring to your life, but the contribution Bravehound’s assistance dogs make to the lives of veterans is immeasurable.”
Fiona McDonald, Bravehound’s founder and chief government, mentioned: “We know that these are difficult times for everyone and people can support our work in many ways but we would appreciate donations to enable us to fund a Bravehound to support one more veteran.
“Our dogs are life-changing.”
Donations to the Back a Bravehound attraction may be made via the charity’s Crowdfunder web page.
