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A trained assistance dog who helped her owner battle crippling anxiety that left her trapped at home has been named Vets Now Pet of the Year 2023.
Two-year-old Belle has transformed the life of Amee Tomkins, from Milton Keynes, who spent seven years rarely going out due to the fear of panic attacks.
She is now able to do normal activities that seemed impossible and has even gained the confidence to become a mum. Belle was the first dog allowed in the hospital labour ward at Milton Keynes University Hospital when Amee and partner Paul welcomed baby Olly in May.
The super-smart Staffordshire Bull Terrier even steps in when Amee’s OCD makes shopping difficult by tapping her bank card on the machine to pay.
And she also brings happiness to kids with regular school visits as a therapy dog.
Amee, 33, has autism and a long history of anxiety.
“I wouldn’t leave the house for months, even to go to the shops or doctors’ appointments,” said Amee. “I’d try to go but when I reached the door, I just couldn’t do it.
“I’m anxious about everything and with my OCD I struggle with germs, meeting people and new situations.”
Amee got Belle as a puppy and found she was able to increasingly go out with her for walks. After she saw potential, Amee worked with an animal behaviourist and spent months teaching Belle until she became an owner-trained assistance dog.
With Belle by her side, Amee was able to go to the cinema, theatre and restaurants for the first time in years, as well as go shopping.
“If she senses me getting anxious, she’ll jump up and put her head on me to rub, which is really calming,” said Amee. “She grounds me so I can take a breath and carry on. And if I do have a panic attack, I know she’ll find the nearest exit and get me out of the shop.
“She takes my card to pay at the till and hands over cash I give her if needed.”
Amee had been going through fertility treatment but says she wouldn’t have had the confidence to become a mum if it hadn’t been for Belle.
As well as attending ante natal appointments, Belle was a huge source of comfort when Amee was hospitalised for two weeks after contracting severe septic pancreatitis a couple of months before the birth.
“She was with me in the ambulance and at my side whenever she could while I was intensive care,” said Amee. “When I was ill on my own at one stage, she jumped at the door to alert the nurses that I needed help.
“I had to have a Caesarean section and as well as being the first dog authorised to be on the labour ward, she stayed by my side afterwards and is just brilliant with Olly.”
Belle is also a therapy dog with charity Canine Concern and is part of a weekly Bark to Read programme at a local primary school as well as attending a children’s library during the holidays.
“She’s opened up the whole world for me, let me become a mum and I owe her so much,” said Amee. “I could never have done any of the things I have without Belle and I’m so pleased and proud that she has won the Pet of the Year award.
“I’ve had such a tough time in the past year, and she has been an absolute star.”
This is the second annual Vets Now Pet of the Year awards and there were deserving entries from across the country.
“The whole team were incredibly moved by the huge impact Belle has had on her owner Amee,” said Dave Leicester, an emergency vet and head of telehealth at Video Vets Now.
“Belle is an outstanding example of the special bond owners can have with their pets, which goes far beyond companionship.
“Not only has Belle helped Amee overcome so much personally, but she continues to help others in the community, both as a therapy dog for the Canine Concern charity and as part of the Bark to Read programme in local primary schools.”
“We hope that Belle’s story can also help to shine a positive light on the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed and showcase how, with the right training, care and attention, they can be a wonderful family pet.”
Amee received a trophy, a £500 voucher and a personalised bundle of vet-recommended pet treats from official awards partner Wayfair.
Marina Kull, Head of UK Housewares at Wayfair said “Belle is a hugely worthy winner of Vets Now’s ‘Pet of the Year Award’ 2023. Offering owner Amee comfort, support and confidence, her story is truly remarkable. Pets are such an important part of homes for thousands of households across the country and it’s clear that Belle is very much part of the family. We hope Amee can use her prize to treat Belle to something lovely from the Wayfair pet department – she certainly deserves it!”
Pet of the Year 2023 Runner Up: Scout the lurcher
An abandoned blind puppy has had such an amazingly full life he’s just been named as Vets Now Pet of the Year 2023 runner-up.
12-year-old Lurcher Scout was due to be put down before being reprieved and then adopted at six months by Tracey Ison and husband Paul.
Despite his sight loss, he’s been fully active, brings joy as a much-loved Therapy dog and has been a champion fundraiser for one of the charities that helped save his life.
He also aids the mental health of those attending a community carers café as part of a social prescribing initiative.
Scout faced a bleak future after being dumped on the streets as a puppy.
“He was picked up stray in County Durham and the pound were going to put him to sleep as they thought he was deaf, blind and no one would want him,” said retired veterinary nurse Tracey, from Hinckley, Leicestershire.
“When they found he wasn’t deaf, three rescue charities took him on and when I heard his story, we just had to give him a chance.
“We had two choices with his blindness, either cocoon him and keep him safe or try and give him a full life with us acting as his eyes.”
Scout thrived at puppy training classes and went on to achieve a Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bronze Award.
Training was adapted to cater for Scout’s blindness, with commands to keep him safe. He plays normally with other dogs and has joined the family on mountain climbs and numerous different adventures.
Seeing how people were drawn to his gentle nature, the couple had him trained to work extensively with charity Therapy Dogs Nationwide.
“He’s been a regular at Saffron House Care Home in Barwell and it’s incredible to see the effect his visits have on dementia care patients,” said Tracey.
“He’s got a knack of knowing what different people want and he’s so calm and patient. There’s one lady who likes to give him a little biscuit and then he’ll just lie down with her. You can see what it means.” 
Scout was also asked to be mascot at Whitestone Carers Community Café following the positive impact of his visits and has helped raise funds for East Midlands Dog Rescue, who helped to save him.
“He’s had a few health issues recently so he’s slowing down a bit and we don’t push him to do too much these days,” said Tracey.
“He deserves a break after overcoming every obstacle and showing he’s such a fighter.
“We’re chuffed to bits to get this award. He’s at the stage of retiring and I think this is a really fitting tribute for all he has done for others.”
This is the second annual Pet of the Year awards and there were deserving entries from across the country.
“It was really tough to shortlist for this year’s awards, as so many incredibly moving entries were submitted.” said Dave Leicester, an emergency vet and head of telehealth at Video Vets Now, a video consultation service for pet owners.
“What’s clear is that more than ever, pets are showing incredible resilience and with the right attention and care, are much loved members of the family.”
Tracey received a trophy, a £50 voucher and a personalised bundle of vet-recommended pet treats from official awards partner Wayfair.
“It’s been a pleasure to be involved in Vets Now Pet of the Year Awards and hear so many remarkable stories. Pets are such an important part of homes for thousands of households across the country and it’s clear that the winning entries are very much part of the family, offering comfort, companionship and so much more.” said Marina Kull, Head of UK Housewares at Wayfair.
Pet of the Year 2023 Runner Up: Tiger the cockatiel
A 32-year-old cockatiel has just been named as runner-up at the Vets Now Pet of the Year awards 2023.
The colourful birds usually live to between 10 and 15 years, but Tiger is as chirpy as ever as he looks to be a record breaker well into his fourth decade.
Owners Samantha and Andy Stirling, from Dorset, have just emigrated to Spain and say Tiger’s mimicking of Samantha’s grandma Beatrice, who bred him, will always remind them of home.
And they’re thrilled to start their new life with recognition in the annual awards run by Vets Now, the UK’s leading emergency vets.
“My grandma bred cockatiels for years and sold them to a local pet shop in Bournemouth,” said Samantha, 46, from Bere Regis.
“I never remember her not having them. She used to lay all the little chicks on a towel on the sofa to check them over and even watched telly with the ones she kept sitting on her head.
“Tiger was one of the last clutch she bred, and he was born well before I sat my GCSE’s in my teens, so he is at least 32.”
The oldest cockatiel previously listed by the Guinness Book of Records was also 32 and with sunflower seed-loving Tiger going strong, Samantha considered submitting him for inclusion.
But she was thwarted by the costs involved and being unable to locate definitive paperwork concerning Tiger’s birthdate.
Beatrice passed away four years ago and, having asked Samantha and Andy to look after him, Tiger provides a welcome constant reminder of her.
“He was great company for my grandma, and he copies her laugh amazingly,” said Samantha.
“It always reminds us of her, and I think he helped me get over the grief of losing her as we were so close. I have Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and suffer from anxiety and depression and Tiger and our two cats and dogs keep me going.
“I love hearing him chuckling away to himself and chatting to the wild birds outside. 
“It’s lovely to be recognised in the Pet of the Year awards. My grandma used to breed such lovely birds and it’s nice for him to get this in memory of her.”
The couple have just relocated to join family near Alicante and made the journey by car with Tiger and their other pets.
“We couldn’t bear to leave him as he’s such a big part of our family,” said Samantha, who charts Tiger’s exploits on an Instagram page.
“Although we were worried it might be too stressful, he has always coped with everything really well. We had to get DEFRA paperwork for him, but nobody gets left behind.”
This is the second annual Pet of the Year awards and there were deserving entries from across the country.
“It was really tough to shortlist for this year’s awards, as so many incredibly moving entries were submitted.” said Dave Leicester, an emergency vet and head of telehealth at Video Vets Now, a video consultation service for pet owners.
“What’s clear is that more than ever, pets are showing incredible resilience and with the right attention and care, are much loved members of the family.”
Samantha and Andy received a trophy, a £50 voucher and a personalised bundle of vet-recommended pet treats from official awards partner Wayfair.
“It’s been a pleasure to be involved in Vets Now Pet of the Year Awards and hear so many remarkable stories. Pets are such an important part of homes for thousands of households across the country and it’s clear that the winning entries are very much part of the family, offering comfort, companionship and so much more.” said Marina Kull, Head of UK Housewares at Wayfair.