WHEN Barry and Petra Coase adopted rescue dog Bella as a puppy, they had no idea their little white ball of fluff would become their guardian angel.

Veteran Barry, 57, of Willingdon, Eastbourne, suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and within days Bella was able to sense his anxiety.

He would wake from night terrors to find her comforting him.

Now Bella can not only rescue Barry if he suffers a debilitating panic attack in public, she also helps other veterans in mental health crisis.

Every week, Bella and Barry go to the charity Combat Stress in Surrey to visit other military personal undergoing therapy.

Back home in Eastbourne, Bella helps children having operations and patients in the final hours of life has she has a special intuitive sense that helps her comfort anyone she meets.

Barry said: “From the day we adopted Bella she has always licked my left ear in the night. This is because I have nightmares. She wakes me up by licking my ear then she calms me down by licking the back of my neck.

“If I have a panic or anxiety attack she sits on my feet and I stare into her eyes till it passes. She is my grounding tool.”

Caring Bella works at Eastbourne District General Hospital, providing cuddles and support to children before their operations. She is also called on to help provide comfort to palliative care patients in their final hours.

Petra, also 57, said: “We got Bella as a rescue and she was only about 20 weeks. Barry wanted to try and get her socialised and started taking her to Pets As Therapy.

“She goes to Eastbourne hospital every Thursday to help children having operations.

“The children hold her lead as they are going in to the operating theatre.

“The idea is that she keeps them calm and if they are calm going in to the operation they are calm coming out.

“We also get called up by palliative care and they say ‘can she come in?’.

“Barry and Bella just go and sit with them and their families. It takes them away from the situation.

“With stroke patients she is able to snuggle up under an arm that doesn’t work so well and her warmth and comfort can make an improvement.

“She just tends to be able to pick up on things.

“I do believe animals have intuition but she is especially good at it. She is so calm. We never have to worry about taking her anywhere.

“She is very good with children and because she is small they always want to come and say hello. Barry takes her right down to their eye height and she is always very well behaved.

“She sits in cafes better than most children.

“When Barry takes her to Combat Stress, she just waits for people to come up to her. Once they start engaging with Bella they start talking and when they start talking they are ready to start therapy.”

Bella is now registered as Barry’s assistance dog.

When Barry suffered a panic attack in Eastbourne’s Beacon shopping centre a few weeks ago she was able to guide him to safety.

Petra said: “There were a lot of people in town and Barry was on the escalators and started to feel like he couldn’t breathe.

“When they got to the bottom, Bella pushed him to the side and out of the way of other people.

“He was on his knees and she just put her paws on to his knees and stared into his eyes until he was able to pat her and tell her he was OK again. She wouldn’t move until she knew he was OK.

“If she wasn’t with him he wouldn’t be able to go to as many places. It has made a huge difference to our lives.

“It has given him his life back.

“But Bella is first and foremost she’s our pet.

“We adore her and wouldn’t have her working too hard.”