Rosie Devlin was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, at the age of 41.
A Lennoxtown woman living with Multiple Sclerosis has told how her three rescue dogs are helping her to manage the condition.
Rosie Devlin, 54, was diagnosed with the neurological condition at the age of 41 after experiencing a number of symptoms linked to the illness.
MS affects both the brain and spinal cord, leading to nerve damage and resulting in symptoms such as extreme fatigue, problems with vision, feeling off balance and numbness.
Having had dogs throughout her life, many of which have been rescued from the Scottish SPCA, Rosie realised that having a dog has helped her with her MS – encouraging her to go outside, get some exercise and be in nature.
A dog is always there to give you unconditional love – no matter what you look or feel like
Rosie, a former zookeeper, said: “By the time I was diagnosed, my children were capable of looking after themselves to a certain extent, whereas a dog is dependent on you so you’ve got that incentive to get up and go.
“A dog can’t feed itself, can’t walk itself or let itself out, so it gives you that push to work through it and concentrate on something else. Exercise is also a real benefit for somebody who’s got MS. I know not everyone is in the same situation as myself – I’ve got relapsing-remitting and there’s various different forms of MS.
“For me, if I do have a relapse and I feel unwell, getting out, pushing myself and getting fresh air really does help me feel better and strengthens my muscles. A dog is always there to give you unconditional love as well – no matter what you look or feel like.”
Rosie and her husband Peter, who has his own photography agency, have three dogs that were all adopted from the Scottish SPCA; black labrador Bonnie, border collie Moss and the latest arrival, who came through the charity’s fostering scheme, Bramble. Bonnie was rescued from the charity’s Lanarkshire rescue centre, Moss from the former Peterden facility and Bramble from Glasgow.
If you’ve got that bond with a dog, it cheers you up
Peter said: “I think it’s good for the mental health aspect as well. If you’ve got that bond with a dog it cheers you up and if you’re feeling down for whatever reason, the dogs are there.
“The fact you’re walking the dog as well, it’s gentle exercise – you don’t realise how much walking you’re actually doing. Rosie walks the dogs three or four times a day so she must do at least 15,000 steps every day!”
Rosie added: “You’ve got to just get up and get on with it. I know not everybody is capable – there were times when my walking was not good and I found it very difficult to walk. I found it very difficult to see as well so Peter coming with me on a walk did help but so did having a dog on each side of me to keep me balanced. It doesn’t work for everybody but that’s how it’s worked for me.”
Lucy Eldred is the Chief Executive of Canine Partners, a charity which creates life-changing partnerships between disabled people and expertly trained dogs. She said: “Dogs can play a life-changing role for people living with MS, offering both companionship and practical support. At Canine Partners, our dogs undergo around two years of specialist training before being carefully matched with a disabled person.
“From picking up dropped items to opening doors and supporting daily routines, they enable their partners to live more independently, while also providing invaluable emotional support.
We see every day how these dogs break down barriers
”Around 20% of our partners are living with MS, and we see every day how these dogs break down barriers – helping people live with greater confidence and freedom.”
The Scottish SPCA’s key mission is to safeguard the welfare of all of Scotland’s animals, and we are tirelessly working to also make this a top priority for parliamentarians. Our recently published Manifesto outlines four key asks which will help ensure Scotland is at the forefront of animal welfare. Delivering on these asks is crucial to prevent future harm and tackle repeat offending, which will help achieve our mission to make Scotland the best place for an animal to call home. Read our full Manifesto and sign our petition to show your support.
To report a concern of cruelty, visit the Scottish SPCA website.
