October is mental health month, and what better way to champion psychiatric support than with a face as cute as Lingo’s? Photo: Kelly-Ann King.
CONTENT WARNING: This article may distress some readers.
There are tens of thousands of dogs in Canberra, but not all of them are pets. Our capital is home to plenty of working canines: herders, guides, guardians, police officers, hunters, trackers, sniffers … even actors and educators!
Nineteen-month-old Lingo was bred to guide the vision-impaired, but with the help of veteran Kelly-Ann King, she’s training for a very different job.
Before she became a project manager for Aspen Medical, Kelly-Ann dedicated 26 years of service to the Australian Army. She remains an active reservist and is a registered nurse with a special interest in veteran mental health.
Kelly-Ann’s unit was small and regularly deployed overseas, so she knows exactly how difficult the job can be.
“It’s really hard to be away from family and friends for that long, especially when in high-stress environments,” Kelly-Ann says.
“Unfortunately, coming home can be even harder. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie and mateship on duty; losing that connection can be a real shock.
“It’s one of the reasons why conditions like PTSD and depression are seen far more often in veterans and first responders than in the general public.”
While she was in the Army, Kelly-Ann met a soldier who had a PTSD support dog named Perry. It was her first experience working with a service animal, but she saw his value right away.
“Struggling with mental health in any form can be very isolating,” she says.
“You can be surrounded by loved ones, but still feel lonely, frightened, or overwhelmed. For people struggling with PTSD, these dogs are a lifeline.”
When Perry was injured and unable to continue his work, Kelly-Ann decided to adopt him. He quickly became a member of the family, looking after the Kings as they navigated life in defence.
Perry’s gentle heart and specialised instincts still benefit his entire household. He’s also a great teacher, pictured here with the Kings’ previous foster, Lizzie. Photo: Kelly-Ann King.
Enter Integra Service Dogs, a registered charity that retrains ‘failed’ guide dogs as PTSD support officers for veterans and first responders in need through the ‘Life Unleashed’ program.
Families like the Kings, who have fostered four Integra dogs since late last year (Tori, Larry, Lizzie, and now Lingo), are crucial to the program’s success.
“Integra dogs come to us to complete advanced training based on their future handler’s needs,” Kelly-Ann says.
“This could be straightforward obedience, like walking at heel and off-lead recall, or more complex tasks; collecting keys, opening doors, and blocking people from entering their handler’s space.
“Something every dog learns to do is a ‘visit’. If they sense you’re struggling, they’ll put their head in your lap or lie on you. That calming presence is very powerful.”
Every Integra service dog completes 12 weeks of advanced training in Canberra before going to their permanent handler. Photo: Intregra Service Dogs.
Part of Lingo’s training is to remain calm and focused no matter what environment she’s in. As practice, she accompanies Kelly-Ann to the office for a few hours a week.
Aspen Medical’s general manager of corporate services, Sean Ryan, made sure the team felt comfortable with a service dog being on site before Lingo’s first visit. The response was an enthusiastic (and unanimous) yes.
“As a veteran-owned company, supporting a veteran colleague who is in turn supporting other veterans is a no-brainer for us,” Sean says.
“Under Kelly-Ann’s attentive supervision, Lingo gets valuable exposure in an office space for her training.
“She quietly settles under Kelly-Ann’s desk, often unnoticed, and has a calming, homely effect on the team.”
Kelly-Ann finishes with a simple request for all Canberrans – service animals have an important job to do, so avoid distracting them at work.
“If you see a dog with its vest or coat on, please don’t try to pat or talk to them without asking their handler first,” she says.
“You wouldn’t distract someone operating heavy machinery … it’s the same thing.”
For more information on how you can support highly trained service dogs for veterans and first responders, visit Life Unleashed by Integra Service Dogs.
Aspen Medical is a proud Veteran Employer of Choice, delivering end-to-end clinical care wherever the world needs it.
If this story has raised any issues, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, the Defence All-hours Support Line on 1800 628 036, Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or Soldier On at 1300 620 380. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
