Deborah Barnes is a Vet turned actor who loves sharing her veterinary experience with her love of animals. She loves storytelling and role play.
Debbie, as she is fondly called, trained at the Ultimate Acting Programme in London for one year and is represented by The Dazey Hills Company for her acting career.
She is known for her role as Lucy in the short film, On The Rocks. She also is a member of stage plays like Eigengrau, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and Yerma.
Debbie caught up with K9 Magazine to tell us more about her dog, work and passion.
Tell us all about all the dogs you've loved in your life. (this is your chance to tell us everything about your dogs, past or present. Names, ages, breeds - we want to know everything!)
First up is my Millie. A rescue dog. Staffie cross Whippet. Came into my life when I really needed a friend, just as much as she needed a home. We became inseparable, my best friend. She lived to be almost 17 years old.
Butkus is a Boxer rescue dog. He came into the practice where I worked to be put to sleep because nobody wanted to rehome him due to his aggressive behaviour towards people and other dogs. He had only three legs!
He was hard work but, his previous humans had let him down and I wanted to show him not everyone was like that. Once he gained my trust we had loads of fun together. What a character!
Polly- Another rescue, was hit by a car and unwanted by her owner. She was a Jack Russell Terrier whose battery was always fully charged.
My intention was never to keep her as I already had Millie and Butkus so once her fractured leg was repaired and the right home came along I was happy (and sad) to see her go. A lovely little girl.
Dorey, a Collie cross rescue who had (you guessed it) come to my place of work to be put to sleep as her elderly owners were moving to accommodation which did not allow pets.
It was my boss who suggested I meet her, or should that read 'keep her'. She was a funny dog, not really overly bothered by humans. Could take them or leave them and was absolutely atrocious with her re-call!
Nerveless, she didn't deserve to die for that so she came home with me.
By this point, I had lost my beloved Butkus to meningitis and it was just Millie and me at home.
Last but not least and currently my only dog is Keith. Yes, you guessed right, another rescue. Again, he came into the practice via the police as he was being used (by some wonderful outstanding members of the public) as a badger-baiting dog.
He was brought into the surgery with quite nasty wounds which needed medical attention. Keith also known as Stilt- Twat due to his inability to control his gangly legs also had nowhere to go.
Obviously, it wasn't my first rodeo so I thought...... what's one more dog to love, it would be rude not to take him home.
You're obviously a huge dog lover. How long have dogs been a major part of your life and how would you explain the importance of dogs to someone who hadn't ever experienced the joy of a canine/human relationship in their life?
I have always loved dogs and longed for one as a child. I have always been more connected to animals than to humans and as an adult looking back at my childhood, it is perhaps due to the fact that most of the caregivers in my life failed me.
I wanted a dog from as early as I can remember but was not allowed one as my mother did not like them.
At the age of 9, I was allowed to volunteer at my local animal rescue and one of the highlights of the day was taking out all of the mixed bags of unwanted doggies for a walk on the local common.
I felt such a great sense of both responsibility and companionship. I loved how the little expectant faces would look at me for direction as we wandered along a new track each time. It was a very freeing and comforting feeling.
As some dogs found homes, new ones would join the group and I would show them all the trails. I remember walking a lovely wire-haired Daushaund named Tilly.
I thought I'd lost her halfway around the walk as she seemed to vanish from sight. Two minutes later I heard a distressed bark, Tilly had somehow fallen between the bars of a cattle grid.
She was fine and I felt a huge sense of pride in rescuing her from the situation.
Time went on and I continued to volunteer for various animal rescue centres as well as work in a veterinary practice training to become a veterinary nurse.
In order to advance my training to gain my qualification, I moved to a bigger veterinary practice where I left home and rented the flat attached to the back of the surgery.
About two months before this move whilst working at the first practice, the local dog rescue where I was a volunteer brought in a Staffordshire Terrier cross Whippet that needed gastric surgery in order to survive.
The Veterinary surgeon told the founder of the rescue to put the dog to sleep as it was the cheapest option. The money spent on surgery could be better used on other unwanted dogs at the centre.
To my absolute relief, the founder was not going to allow this to happen and I offered to look after the patient for free post-surgery, to help reduce the costs.
It worked well I stayed in the poky flat above the surgery where I would bring Millie (that was the patient's name) and her Intravenous Drip upstairs where we would watch TV and get to know each other.
Then each morning I would bring her downstairs where she would spend the day recovering in the ward receiving her much-needed treatment.
Unbeknown to me, this was the start of our amazing friendship which would go on to last 16years.
Thankfully Millie made a full recovery (and after a short stint at my house) against my mother's wishes she went back to the rescue centre and was rehomed to a new family.
A few months later a received a phone call and accepted (with delight) the offer of a job and residence.
I then had a light bulb moment!!! Could I have a dog in the nurse's flat? I rang up the surgery and asked to speak to the boss to ask the question.
I could not believe my luck, not only had I received a job offer I was also allowed a dog my first ever dog at the age of 20!!
When I rang the founder of the dog rescue and asked if I could take Millie (who had since been returned to the rescue by her adopted family), she was over the moon.
I guess what I'm trying to get across with this story is that not all companions have to come in the shape of a person. I never really found a true connection with any person but, I had a very strong connection with Millie. She was still an amazing soul just, one in the shape of a dog and not a human.
What are your favourite things to do with your dog(s)?
I find walking my dog a genuine stress reliever. Even though at the time going out, especially in bad weather can seem like a chore, I always feel better about it.
I love cuddling my dog (although Keith is not a huge fan of hugs) and throwing the ball and watching him hare about after it.
One of my favourite things to do with my previous dog Millie was to drive along in my car listening to cheesy pop music at full blast whilst Millie stuck her head out the passenger window.
You have a really interesting career... What advice would you give to the many people who wanted to follow your path in career terms? What are the absolute best (and worst) things about your work?
I would say to anyone who wanted to train to be a Veterinary Nurse to absolutely go for it if you're serious about it. It is not cuddling kittens and puppies all day and there are a few years of academia involved but, if you're committed, you will get there.
Being squeamish isn't going to serve you well and you have to find a way of dealing with seeing animals lose their life for a variety of reasons. It took me a long time to realise that not everything can be saved and sometimes that can be very disheartening.
Some of the worst cases are when the patients have been suffering at the hands of their owners. On the flip side of that, the feeling of nursing an animal back to health is unmatched, especially when it seemed the patient wasn't ever going to get to that point.
So rewarding for everyone when it does.
Here are our quick-fire questions, are you ready?
Which do you prefer and why?
Big dogs or little dogs?
As a rule, I prefer big dogs as I feel they are more robust and can withstand rolling around on the floor and a big cuddle.
Calm, relaxed dogs or dogs who live at 100mph?
I feel calmer in the presence of a calmer dog. If I'm in the presence of chaotic energy and I find my anxiety can become triggered.
Dogs who do as they're asked most of the time or dogs who do pretty much whatever they like whenever they like?
I feel it's a bit like children. Children who have boundaries and consequences are more pleasant to be around than those that do not.
The same goes for dogs. Dogs who engage with their humans and have boundaries are nicer to be around than those who make up the rules as they go along.
Dogs who love to walk by your side or dogs who like to race off and cover ten thousand yards in 3 seconds?
Dogs who race off I find stressful. Are they going to return injured? Have they run into the path of a car or found a stag to hunt down? Dogs who walk by my side are more attuned and engaged which makes for a more relaxing walk.
Days off or days at work?
Days off. You have one life, do what makes you happy with the time that's yours.
The fastest route or the scenic route?
Depends on what mood I'm in but, usually the scenic route. I like to take in the sights and see if I can notice things I haven't before.
Nighttime or early morning?
Early morning. I try to create a routine if there is not one in place as I find this really helps my mental health.
Describe the last time you laughed out loud because of something you saw a dog do.
I laughed out loud when I saw a dog making a game out of face planting on a bed. Continuously jumping face first into the duvet.
What do you like to do in your downtime?
I love to walk and run with my dog, Keith. I love the fact that we get to go on adventures together and he also makes me feel safe especially if we're out late in the evening.
I love to swim, especially in the sea during the summer months. Not so much in the winter, then it turns into something I hate to do.
Let us in on a secret that very few people know about you.
Ooooooohhh, a secret............ let me seeeeeeee.............. I really HATE Octopus!! They are weird as hell. Who needs that many limbs? Why do they feel the need to occupy the sea AND the land?? It's like...... pick a lane!
They are highly intelligent, but for what reason? There is no Mensa in the ocean. What are they planning FFS? They freak me the hell out!
Rant over. The secret's out.
What is your current favourite…?
TV show?
My favourite TV show at the moment is SNL. I love to laugh, especially at satirical nonsense. It provides my mind with a break.
Album?
I'm loving the new Imagine Dragons album at the moment. Some great empowering tunes.
Film?
The Shawshank Redemption. Fantastic cast and a brilliant storyline about hope, resilience and friendship.
Website?
My favourite website is most probably YouTube. I find it very helpful for many reasons. Whether it's for educational purposes, for watching funny videos or 'How to videos'.
Animal charity(s)?
DAWG Rescue, Secret World and SOI Dogs Foundation.
If you had to choose just one, what product or service would you say has most changed your life do you think and why? (can be technology, beauty, food, pet-related, book - anything)
Google is pretty life-changing. I love the fact you can gain information, wherever you may be on a huge range of subjects without having to source such information from a book which would most likely only be held in a library.
Tell us about some of the most memorable moments from your work.
There have been many memorable moments from working as a Veterinary Nurse. One that springs to mind is going to pick up a dead badger which had sadly been hit by a car.
Only to find (once in the boot of the car) it was not dead, only concussed. Cue the panic as my colleague and I realise we are driving along with a live badger loose in the car!
And finally, this is always a tough question and often requires some serious thought… If dogs had the ability to speak and you could ask your dog just one question and one question only, what would you ask them and what do you think that they'd say?
I would ask Millie my dog, how I could help her to trust people and make her internal life a calmer place to be so she didn't have to be so stressed in the presence of strangers. I think she would most likely answer with "Give me time, patience and love and I will get there".
This is an opportunity to talk about any causes, projects, business ventures etc that are important to you and you'd like us to tell our readers about.
I feel very passionately about bringing the importance of mental well-being to the younger generation. I would love to see counselling sessions in schools as part of the curriculum for young pupils. Giving children the opportunity to talk through any issue, no matter how major or minor in a safe environment.
To eliminate any stigma attached to therapy and to normalise vocalising emotions amongst adults and peers.
Thanks, Debbie!
