Bunbury pet shop joins mission to provide a best friend to help with first responders’ healing journey

First responders are waiting years to access specialised mental health support, but a foundation is raising funds to increase access to therapy dog support in Bunbury. Along with other branches across the country, Petstock Bunbury is aiming to raise more than $122,000 by the end of February. The Buddy Mission is an initiative spearheaded by the Petstock Foundation, along with Dogs for First Responders (D41R) to support assistance dog programs that help veterans and first responders. Petstock Bunbury manager Ben Roberts said the wait time for a support dog could be around two years. “We have noticed quite a number of participants who were retired from fire force, police force or ambulance works requiring extra help,” he said. “What we do boosts the system to make the service accessible withing one year of application.” Mr Roberts said it was the calming nature of the dog that makes it easier for the owner to have an easy and effective relationship — helping them in their journey of healing. “I think forming a bond is essential for someone to make steps in overcoming mental health problems, it also helps that the dogs will be with them all the time,” he said. “It also helps the dogs, because over 50 per cent of these dogs are rescue dogs — so it is saving these dogs from euthanasia.” Bunbury locals can help the mission by simply purchasing a buddy toy, of which all the profits go towards the funds. DF1R founder and experienced paramedic Karen Hollings said the first responders were constantly exposed to traumatic and emotionally confronting incidents in their line of work. “We could sometimes go to very sick people and we also have to endure people who are affected by drugs and alcohol,” she said. “That continued exposure can be very taxing on first responders.” She said most first responder organisations now had a designated wellbeing department that allowed immediate access to support and specialised services. “Our service is a frontline mobile, additional and alternative form of support on top of what organisations already provide,” Ms Hollings said. “The cohort of first responders can be quite guarded, they have got very strong personal barriers. “A lot of that is because of pressure that they put on themselves, because they are expected to cope with anything.” She said the dogs encouraged people to slowly bring down their barriers and be more open to conversations that helps their healing process. “They don’t judge and just their natural presence opens up a line of communication,” she said. “People are engaging with the dog, they are patting their dog and their guard comes down and they start to feel more comfortable. “They (dogs) just seem to create a lot of positive energy in sometimes what can be quite a negative space.” Ms Hollings said the funding she received from the Petstock Foundation has helped them worry less about the costs and focus more on giving the best service to first responders. “The funding that we receive from them helps with the resourcing, training, getting uniforms, paying for engagement and all the behind the scene costs,” Ms Hollings said. “Because we don’t have the stress of worrying about money, it’s allowing us to focus on the service that we want to provide without the financial pressures.”