Eddie — Brantford’s new trauma dog

BRANTFORD – Eddie the barbet is a very special animal.

He’s cute, even-tempered and is a trained trauma dog that was officially handed over to the Victim Services of Brant in a ceremony last Friday at Brantford Police Service. Eddie, 16 months old, was given by a volunteer organization called United by Trauma  — a group made up of first responders and military members assisting peers affected by post-traumatic stress disorder.

“This job isn’t for any old dog, which is why we are so grateful to Nicole Taylor [co-founder of United by Trauma] and her team at United by Trauma for selecting Eddie,” said Police Chief Geoff Nelson. “What I can tell you is that everyone loves him.”

Taylor co-founded the organization after going through her own form of trauma in dealing with the loss of her son, and had a trauma dog of her own that helped her and continues to help her cope.

“The trauma dogs are so good at what they are trained to do,” said Taylor. “When my dog sees me zoning out, or, not being able to pull myself out of a slump, he will come up to me and press on my thighs with his paws until he gets my attention and brings me back.”

Eddie is named after Sgt. Eddie Adamson, a Toronto police staff who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and took his own life after an incident in 1980 that took the life of an officer on his team. Every animal that is trained and given by United by Trauma’s program is named in memory of a soldier or solider whose life has been taken by effects from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I believe Eddie would be honoured to know that this dog, Eddie, dedicates to his memory with service to his community, as he once did,” said an emotional Brant County OPP Sgt. Dean Skelding who used to work with Adamson.

As soon as Skelding said those words, Eddie barked.

“He’s never barked like that before,” said Penny McVicar, executive director of Victim Services of Brant. McVicar said that when Eddie barked she got a chill because when she looked in the direction Eddie barked, no one was there.

Taylor said that it takes a good year for a trauma dog to be ready for service, but that each trauma dog on the team is still a normal, active and fun dog at heart.

“They work pretty well 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but after hours, like any other dog, they love to have fun,” said Taylor. “You can pet them, rub them down, play with them — some people think they shouldn’t but it’s totally fine.”

Eddie’s official handoff ceremony makes him Ontario’s fourth trauma dog and the team s excited to see how he will help individuals who need his services.

Also at the ceremony, Bill Partridge of the Gunners Club donated a cheque for $1,300 to help take care of Eddie.

 

 

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