David Wilkinson, 37, from Horwich, was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after leaving the army in 2014.
He had previously been serving as a bombardier and was stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I tried everything, including talking therapies and medication, but nothing was helping.
“I went to a really dark place.”
After seeking help for his PTSD, David contacted a charity which specialises in helping individuals face civilian life following a career in the armed forces, Veteran’s Army.
Veteran’s Army was founded in 2021 by Ryan Yates, a former soldier who suffered from PTSD following his military career.
David said: “I’d been researching different charities and heard about Veteran’s Army, they told me that they were offering emotional support dogs.
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“I’d been reading about assistance dogs and their benefits, how they can help people like me who were suffering with PTSD.”
Shortly after applying to the scheme, David was paired with his own assistance dog, a Belgian Malinois called Nala.
Assistance dogs are trained to support disabled people and people with medical conditions in a variety of ways.
Nala and David are since inseparable. (Image: David Wilkinson) From guide dogs to medical alert dogs, from autism dogs to hearing dogs, assistance dogs change, and often save, the lives of their owners and their families.
Together, David and Nala went to specific training sessions for assistance dogs so that she was able to accommodate his specific needs as someone with PTSD.
Now three years old, Nala is a full-time assistance dog and friend for David and the two have an inseparable bond.
He added: “Nala has been transformative, we have such a close bond.
“I work as a tramper with Ian Robinson Transport, they have been amazing in accommodating us both. I can’t thank them enough.
“It was originally difficult to find employment after leaving the army, so it has been a relief to be able to get back on my feet and back working again.
“She has her own bed in the back of the van, we actually have bunk beds.
“Work knows to give me extra time to accommodate her and make sure she’s comfortable before we set off.
Nala has been trained to calm David in situations that trigger his PTSD. (Image: David Wilkinson) “With Nala, I’m on the ball, I’m talking to people, and I feel like it’s easier for me to open up.
“I don’t ruminate now, which was something I could easily fall into, I don’t black out. Nala keeps me in reality.
“I can go outside, go to my local Tesco, which would have been too daunting before Nala.
“When I feel anxious, she’ll just tap my leg with her nose gently.
“She stops me from freaking out or going into a blackout. I’ve now not done that for years.
“Because my job requires me to drive around the country, it can be difficult to explain every time I stop somewhere what it is that she does.
“It would be great to have more awareness about assistance dogs. They have all the same rights as guide dogs but with a different function, something people don’t know about.
“Nala is also great with my two kids, if they’re upset or stressed, she knows to go over to them in order to calm them down.
David wants to spread awareness about assistance dogs, (Image: David Wilkinson) “I know the government is working on legislation, namely the Employment Rights Bill, to raise living standards and create opportunities for people across the country.
“Inclusive work environments, regardless of one’s political stance, may encourage more companies to adopt such practices.
“This could ultimately benefit individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of employment and job security.”
