Amee Tomkins, her therapy dog Belle and her new son Olly.Photo:Vets Now Pet of the Year 2023
Vets Now Pet of the Year 2023
Amee Tomkins of Milton Keynes, England, has always had a special bond with her 2-year-old dog Belle. But when she became pregnant, her beloved Staffordshire bull terrier stepped up in more ways than one.
“I have anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and I’m autistic, so sometimes I find things very overwhelming," says Tomkins, 34. “I have a lot of sensory issues so noises can make me a little upset. Belle has been trained to pick up on my mood and she knows if I’m about to have a panic attack and will get me out of there.”
During her pregnancy, Tomkins’ anxiety was at all-time high as she was diagnosed with the excessive vomiting condition hyperemesis gravidarum, developed gallstones and had pancreatitis.
“I needed constant care and was one step away from intensive care, but [Belle] stayed with me,” Tomkins says.
Even before Tomkins discovered she was pregnant, Belle just seemed to sense it, her owner shares.
“I noticed she was following me around more than usual, she was being really clingy and laying over my tummy a lot, she would not leave my side," Tomkins recalls. “I ended up doing a pregnancy test, and it showed I was pregnant.”
Fast track to April 19, 2023, and after a series of assessments, Belle was allowed inside the hospital where Tomkins was having her planned c-section.
“She was the first dog allowed on Milton Keynes hospital’s labor ward,” Tomkins says, adding, “She was there waiting for me — I was trying to get her to jump onto the bed but she wouldn’t because she could sense I had had surgery.”
Staffie Belle was the first to meet newborn Olly.Amee Tomkin / SWNS
Amee Tomkin / SWNS
When Tomkins posted an adorable picture of Belle pushing Olly out of hospital on her social media, it caught the attention of local media outlets.
Tomkins' local vet nominated Belle forVets Now’s Pet of the Year 2023 award, which she ultimately won.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
source: people.com
