Devon veteran charity receives massive donation

The charity trains and provides assistance dogs for current and former members of the British Armed Forces with service-related mental health conditions

A Devon charity has received a £75,000 donation from Forces Support.

Exeter-based Veterans With Dogs said the money would be used to support three new puppies and veterans through an assistance dog partnership.

The charity said the money would cover purchasing the puppies and training them to after-care and ongoing support.

Craig MacLellan, CEO of Veterans With Dogs, said it would be "life changing for three veterans".

Dogs that undergo training are always ‘on shift’, providing the veteran with 24/7, 365 days of assistance.

CEO of Forces Support Carol Reynolds said they were delighted to help fund the charity.

"Their work is extremely close to our hearts, and we are excited to see what they can achieve in the future," she said.

Craig MacLellan, CEO of Veterans With Dogs, said they were grateful for the donation and the "end result will literally be life changing for three veterans".

"Unfortunately, the need for qualified assistance dogs for current and former members of the British Armed Forces with mental health related issues remains very high," he said.

"While we have a fantastic network of fundraisers, we are still a small charity, so support from organisations such as Forces Support makes such a huge difference."