Amani Salim, an 18-year-old from west London, found herself struggling to engage with school during her Year 10. Her life took a transformative turn when she met Bella, a border collie cross, and Julie Tonks at Hill House Farm. This farm is one of several operated by the charity Jamie's Farm, which offers five-day stays designed to help teenagers cope with academic and personal challenges. For the past six years, Bella has been a fixture at the farm, befriending and supporting over 3,000 teenagers in their times of need.
Bella began her role as a therapy dog at just 12 weeks old. Owner Julie Tonks, who also serves as the therapeutic lead at the farm, highlights Bella's intuitive nature in recognizing when young people are feeling down. Bella's presence is particularly impactful during therapeutic activities, where her companionship shines in "walk and talk" sessions.
"She'll just go and put herself next to that young person, and it might just be a paw on a leg, or putting her head on their lap," – Julie Tonks
Amani Salim experienced a noticeable change in herself after her stay at the farm. Now pursuing further qualifications in sport and playing football with the Queens Park Rangers women's reserve squad, Amani credits Bella for helping her emerge from her shell.
"I didn't talk until Bella came up to me under the table and just started rubbing her head on my legs and putting her paw up on my legs," – Amani Salim
"I really love dogs so I just started stroking her head and playing with her under the table, and that helped me to talk and come out of my shell a bit." – Amani Salim
Julie Tonks emphasizes Bella's playful yet perceptive nature as she interacts with teenagers.
"She's quite playful, but she's also quite intuitive as well." – Ms Tonks
Bella spends most of her time at the farm surrounded by young people, offering her unique brand of support. Her ability to sense when someone is sad or withdrawn makes her an invaluable part of the therapeutic process at Jamie's Farm.
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