North Berwick veteran and dog win Soldiering On Award

A NORTH Berwick veteran and his assistance dog have won a UK armed forces award.

Retired Major Archie Douglas and his dog Cocoa were recognised at the Soldiering On Awards for their strong bond and teamwork.

This duo scooped the Animal Partnership category at the special awards ceremony on October 22.

Archie and Cocoa

Major Douglas, who served with the 1st Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and did tours in Afghanistan, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2013.

Despite being told he had just three years to live, he has defied the odds and is still going strong today.

Surgery for the tumour led to a condition called SMART syndrome, which causes a range of neurological issues.

Major Douglas also has epilepsy.

His life was transformed by Cocoa, a spaniel specially trained by Scottish charity Bravehound.

She helps him live independently by raising the alarm and attracting attention if he is in distress.

Archie said: “She has changed my life.

“She is trained to alert people when my brain trips.

“I can collapse in a heap, and several times if I hadn’t made it to hospital I wouldn’t be here now.

“Her job is to call for help as quickly as possible.”

The veteran has not only outlived his diagnosis but has also managed to raise £50,700 for six charities in the last 12 years.

More than £30,000 of this was donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Major Douglas added: “Having a Bravehound-trained dog like Cocoa enables veterans like myself to get out and to become a productive member of society: to have a life, to live a life.”

Fiona MacDonald, Bravehound’s founder and CEO said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Archie and Cocoa are the winners.

“Together, they make an incredible team and are an inspiration to everyone around them.”

East Lothian Courier →