Assistance dog Belle wins award after helping owner in hospital

Belle has been awarded Vet Now's 'Pet of the Year' 2023

Brilliant Belle has won an award after helping to bring a baby into the world!

The Staffordshire bull terrier is a trained assistance dog and helps her owner, Amee, who has autism and anxiety.

When she detects her owner is stressed or in pain, Belle lies down beside her to give her the support she needs.

And when Amee went into labour Belle was with her every step of the way.

She was allowed on to the maternity ward at the hospital so could be there to help stay calm.

Belle kept her owner Amee calm while she was in the hospital to give birth to baby Olly

Belle is believed to be the first ever dog to be allowed on a UK labour ward, which is a ward in a hospital where women can go to give birth.

The two-year-old doggy was also with her owner in the ambulance and intensive care ward.

Amee's midwife - a medical professional who supports people through their pregnancies - suggested Belle should be allowed on to the ward after seeing how much she helped her owner.

Amee said before Belle came along she "wouldn't leave the house for months, even to go to the shops or doctors."

Thanks to Belle's help, Amee Tompkins welcomed baby Olly in May

It was important that Belle was able to cope with the busy ward and how she reacted to her owner being in pain.

The hospital carried out a risk assessment where she was tested before being allowed on to the ward and passed with flying colours!

Amee said the hospital staff "were amazed by her".

The hospital's infection control team put extra cleaning measures in place so other patients were safe in the hospital too.

Belle and baby Olly who was born in May

Amee is proud of Belle who has won a national award for her work, hopefully changing sometimes negative perceptions of her breed.

She added: "She gave me something else to focus on when everything else was happening around me.

"She's such a calm lovely dog and she deserves all the recognition."