The extraordinary story of how a unique dog has saved an ex-soldier’s life.

Geoff served in many dangerous situations during his 18-year military career, experiencing many unimaginably traumatic experiences which he was completely unable to process once he left the army. He simply ‘bottled it all up’ leading to graphic nightmares in which he replayed the harrowing events. This left him terrified, sleep deprived and unable to see a way to continue with his life on the outside. 

Already at the end of his tether, things became even worse when he witnessed 2 separate motorcycle accidents after he left the army. Having spent considerable time working as a medic while in the infantry, he did not hesitate to help. He was first on the scene but despite Geoff’s efforts to resuscitate both men and make them comfortable they did not recover from their horrendous injuries and died.

Even more trauma followed while Geoff was working in Greece when he was sent to investigate a double fatality involving a machine gun attack by robbers on a driver and armed escort of a truck of tobacco products. He has no memory of anything happening after boarding a plane home and woke up in a psychiatric hospital in Southampton.

Geoff’s body could take no more stress and he suffered a total breakdown. He was diagnosed with complex PTSD, together with a severe meat phobia, which means if he smells cooking meat, sees cooked meat or even sometimes hears a description of cooked meat, he has a flashback to a military trauma which causes him to disassociate. This means that his brain shuts down and he can remember nothing more, however consequently learns that he has fled the area, possibly running for miles and miles without stopping with no awareness of physical injury or danger, often resulting in slipped discs, hypothermia and frequent A&E visits.

Although he tried to cope by mapping out his life to avoid or at least be prepared for such smells, even having a list of all the licensed food vans in his home county of Bucks, it proved impossible. He spent a lot of time in psychiatric hospitals and therapy centres, became afraid to leave home and suffered a marriage breakup.

Life became very bleak, living in a hostel for homeless military veterans, and he began to question the point of continuing. Until a chance meeting with an MDD puppy socialiser led to him contact the charity. Training a dog for someone with Geoff’s requirements was a first for the charity and a special dog was required. A dog with confidence, calmness and focus.

A 3-year-old black labrador called Charlie was selected for the role. A lengthy training period then ensued and 6 months later, Charlie was placed with Geoff.

Charlie is the first Medical Alert Assistance dog to be trained to alert to oncoming intense PTSD dissociative episodes. He alerts by picking up on visual changes in Geoff’s body language and odour changes associated with the episode.

Charlie quickly transferred from his training scenarios and started recognising and alerting to behaviour, sounds and the odour change associated with the severe stress response which Geoff exhibits during an exposure to his triggers. As time has passed Charlie has become increasingly tuned to Geoff’s stress reaction and as their partnership progressed, Charlie has also started to even wake Geoff from his episodes of night terrors.

Charlie alerts Geoff by nudging his leg or placing his head on his lap and if Geoff does not respond quickly enough he escalates this to jumping up and then to climbing all over him to make him leave a danger area. These early alerts stop Geoff dissociating and enable him to take the necessary safety precautions that keep him safe and able to avoid injuries and hospital admissions that were so frequent in the past.

Geoff, who describes Charlie as his best friend, says he alerts without error. ‘He’s mind blowing. I defy anyone to meet him and not fall head over heels.’

Charlie now accompanies Geoff to his work as a health and safety officer and in less than a year together, everything has changed. ‘I can go out, play guitar in my band, shop, walk, work, eat... I have a very near normal life again. He’s a miracle. Not a single day goes past when I don’t count my lucky stars that he’s in my life,’ says Geoff.

Geoff has changed from a broken ex-soldier to a vegan, multi-instrumentalist with a future. And Charlie’s reward for his incredible role in this transformation? Love, admiration, loyalty and respect. And a few of his favourite dried sprats too.