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

5 November 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.”