Terrific Truffles’ is making a paws-itive impact on mental health

21 October 2021

“I knew she would make people happy, but I don’t think I realised just how much she would help people open up,” says Inspector Paul Van Veen, handler of Truffles, the Force’s first ever wellbeing dog.

Since joining the Force back in May, the eight-month-old maltipoo has already taken part in more than 40 engagements, supporting police officers and staff, as well as members of the community, with their wellbeing.

Former dog handler Paul, who has been in the police for 25 years, successfully campaigned for Truffles earlier this year, having seen the impact post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has had on many of his colleagues. Paul and his partner PC Emma Dinning, a student assessor, both handle Truffles, using her as much as possible – with a lot of the work done in their own time.

“I never imagined just how much of an amazing impact Truffles would have,” said Paul, who came off the frontline at the end of last year, before heading into an office role. He added: “She is great at getting people talking, as well as breaking down the barriers between the public and the Force.

“She’s definitely helping to improve and strengthen the relationship the police have with the public. I take her out for a walk and out of the dozens of people I pass, I think only a couple haven’t stopped to talk to me.”

Known as “Terrific Truffles”, she was part-funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Initiative Fund, before becoming an official wellbeing and trauma dog, representing the National Police Wellbeing service Oscar Kilo 9 initiative.

As well as working in the community and with police staff, Truffles supports victims, and will work with arrested suspects too.

“We will trial her in custody to calm down offenders, which will hopefully lead to them engaging with us a lot better,” Paul explains.

“Plus, we go into schools and speak with children who might be on the wrong side of crime or looking at going down that path. Those children aren’t engaging and then within 20 minutes or so, they are playing with Truffles and chatting about the dog.

“One of her earlier visits was to a domestic violence refuge, where Emma and Truffles met with a domestic violence victim’s daughter who had been mute for three months following the trauma of seeing her mom violently assaulted. After spending time with Truffles, she was laughing and giggling running around screaming ‘doggy, Mommy’ – her mum, along with Emma and the staff all burst into tears and mum hopes to get a dog when they finally find a place of their own.

“Another highlight was when we visited a special needs school where there was a boy who wouldn’t touch anything but when he saw Truffles, he reached out and started stroking her. It’s these little victories that make such a difference.”

Of course, a huge benefit to having Truffles in the team is supporting officers and staff with their mental health.

“I used to walk into a room of 20 or so people and maybe one person would talk to me. Now, I walk in with Truffles and 15 or more people start a conversation. All of a sudden, they’re opening up and asking me questions,” added Paul, “I briefly thought I’d become popular, but actually I’m just the human that drives Truffles around.”

While Truffles is used to encourage people to open up, Paul and Emma are trained mental health first aiders and peer supporters, so are able to spot any signs of mental health issues and signpost officers and staff towards further support.

“We spend time with a large amount of student officers too, one of which had attended a road accident, where a motorcyclist had been killed and was trapped under a car. The officer had scratches on his arm, which turned out to be from family members trying to rescue the deceased – he had been holding them back. He was questioning his job but, thanks to Emma and Truffles, he opened up about how he was feeling and discussed the help available,” explained Paul.

Having owned German shepherds since he was a teenager and working with police dogs for more than 10 years, Paul says that even he has been shocked by the partnership he has with Truffles.

“I never thought I would have had a dog like this in my life,” he said, “It had always been my dream to work with police dogs and catch criminals, but I didn’t always think about the victim behind the crime.

“Both Truffles and the police dogs I’ve worked with make so much of a difference, but in different ways.”

Paul admits that while his colleagues are supportive of the project, they do not all understand it.

“Traditionally, dogs in the police had one purpose, to fight crime. If I’d suggested the idea of wellbeing dogs five years ago, I would’ve been laughed out of the room,” he explains.

Despite only being in her first year, Truffles is already well travelled, having shaken paws by supporting Care of Police Survivors (COPS), attending the charity’s annual family weekend at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, the first time a dog has attended, and to the National Service Dog Bravery Awards.