Dog Saves Diabetic Girl While 5 Miles Apart
Dog saves diabetic girl while 5 miles apart Is it science, science fiction, or something else? 7 On Your Side has been tracking the claims of sellers and owners of diabetic alert dogs since 2012. And one family's claim stands out, because they believe their dog Hero alerted them to their daughter's diabetic low, while she was at school and Hero was at home, five miles away. Sadie is 4 years old. She has Down syndrome and type I diabetes. The family's Labrador, Hero, was trained as a puppy to sniff out her diabetic highs and lows. Greg and Michelle Brooks attest that Hero often "nails" the alerts. One afternoon, while Sadie was at school, the Brooks said Hero started whining incessantly at home, which they considered unusual behavior. They called Sadie's school and asked to have her blood sugar tested. Thirty minutes after that call, Sadie's numbers dropped dangerously low. "With lows, she could go into a diabetic coma right away, and she could die if we kept her low too long," said Greg Brooks, Sadie's father. The girl's principal, who has diabetes as well, was surprised. "I'll be honest," said Caroline Knadler. "It kinda blew my mind." While a dog's sense of smell is super human, Hero's trainer admits that detecting a scent from five miles away would be a stretch. "I'm very confident a dog can pick up a scent up to a mile, two miles away," said KC Owens from Tattle Tail Scent Dogs. Seven On Your Side has been tracking diabetic alert dog successes and failures for years. Back in 2012, we interviewed Michele Hunter , who had high hopes for her dog Sugar, sold by Virginia-based Warren Retrievers. "She's a gift," said Hunter joyfully. "A lifesaver." But when we followed up with Hunter three years later , she regretted signing an 18-thousand dollar contract for a sweet dog Continue reading >>
Service Dog Helps Diabetic College Student Live Safely
Service dog helps diabetic college student live safely Service dog helps diabetic college student live safely Scott Arnold's mother was in a panic, when she realized her son ---about to go off to college and live in a dorm---would have no one to help when his health alerts sounded. Scott has an auto-immune disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and cannot sense as his blood sugar levels dropped to life-threatening critical levels. Melody Scanlon, a nurse, spent last summer researching, and discovered diabetic alert service dogs. Finding the right one and getting him to Central New York has been a pioneering effort. The dog's job is to be a constant companion, and smell the difference in blood sugar levels. When they drop, he alerts by pawing --until the sugar levels are brought back up by drinking something sugary, or by medication. The dog had to be trained, and had to have a personality to match the lifestyle of its new master. Scanlon finally found a breeder/trainer in South Carolina, also the mother of a Type 1 diabetic child, and was able to make a match. An expensive match: the dog, Chase, had a $15-thousand price tag, not counting the equipment that comes with him. Melody began fundraising. A golf tournament in Tully this past summer, a dog wash, and a grant from a Texas woman brought the total half-way. Cutting into college savings and working extra hours is helping pay the rest. As Scott wrapped up his first semester at SUNYs College of Environmental Sciene and Forestry, he and Melody went to South Carolina for hands-on dog handling. They came home toDeRuyter with Chance on Christmas Eve, and spent the rest of the college winter break training and getting used to each other. Other family members had to adjust, too, including the pet dog, who wanted to play and couldn't und Continue reading >>
Diabetic Girl, 11 Barred From Bringing Her Service Dog Duke To School As Administration Says It May Distract Other Students
One Rochester-area family is barking mad after their diabetic 11-year-old daughter's service dog was denied entry to her middle school. Duke, a yellow Labrador retriever, helps Madyson Siragusa sniff out her blood sugar when it dips or spikes too high, and reminds her to administer her insulin or grab a quick snack. But the Rush Henrietta Central School District — located in suburban Rochester — denied Madyson's request to have her service dog by her side during school hours, on the grounds that the canine would be a distraction to students and possibly scare them. Mother Keri Siragusa told the Daily News that she's outraged at the school's 180, saying that at first, they were on board with a service dog helping Madyson monitor her blood sugar levels. "But they said a week before classes started that he would be a distraction for children with fears of dogs, and children with allergies. They said that no matter how well-trained he was, Duke would present a problem." For the 33-year-old mother of four, that logic didn't add up. "Fear and allergies aren't enough to deny Madyson having a service dog. These are middle schoolers, they're old enough not to stare at the dog all day or bother him," she said. "(Duke) wouldn't be a problem — it teaches tolerance." A spokesperson from Roth Middle School released a statement to The News, saying in part that the New York State of School Attorneys evaluated this case individually, but did not deem Duke necessary. "The district has determined that the family's wish to have a dog accompany their student does not justify the inevitable disruption to the school environment," the statement read. "We are confident our student will continue to receive a free appropriate public education without the aid of a dog, and we know she will b Continue reading >>
Sadie's Hero: Diabetic Alert Dog Sensed Little Girl Was In Trouble, From Miles Away | Metro News
Diabetic alert dog sensed little girl was in trouble, even though they were milesapart Alison Lynch Thursday 28 Apr 2016 12:08 pm Nap time (Picture: Sadies Hero/Facebook) Well, for this clever little Lab, its all part of the day job. Hero is a trained diabetic alert dog. He has kept four-year-old Sadie safe ever since he joined her and her family as a puppy. Sadie was born with Downs syndrome and, three months later, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Hero is there to let her parents know when Sadies blood sugar levels drop too low or get too high, using his strong sense of smell. Hes able to detect changes to her blood sugar levels through an odour thats emitted by the body when those chemical changes occur. When the blood sugar levels are too low, Hero whines and will offer her parents his left paw. When theyre too high, he offers them the right paw. Which is pretty incredible in itself. But, last December, the family say the closeness of the bond between Sadie and her Hero became even clearer. On the day in question, Sadie was in her special needs class at Deerfield Elementary School in Cedar Hills, while Hero was at home in Pleasant Grove, over five miles away. Hero started behaving as he would whenever Sadies blood sugar levels are dropping. Hes normally a very quiet dog. Whining is not in his protocol. But he just started whining and he would not stop, mum Michelle Brooks told KUTV News . Michelle wasnt sure what it could be, given that Sadie was miles away, but decided to call her school just in case. (Sadies mom) called me and asked if I could check her numbers and they were fine, teacher Ms.Stoneman explained. I tested her and it was fine. Then within half an hour she went down. Sadies headteacherCaroline Knadler, who also has Type 1 diabetes, couldnt believe Continue reading >>
Dog Saves The Life Of Sleeping Boy With Type 1 Diabetes
Dog saves the life of sleeping boy with type 1 diabetes By Jennifer Earl / CBS News One of the very first photos LukeNuttall and his diabetic alert dog (DAD) Jedi took together. Facebook/Saving Luke No alarms were going off, Dorrie Nuttall wasn't checking her 7-year-old diabetic son's blood sugar and her family was fast asleep; it was at that moment things got "scary very fast." Thankfully, the little boy's black Labrador "Jedi" was nearby. Jedi sensed Luke's blood sugar was alarmingly low, jumped onto Nuttall's bed and laid on top of her until she woke up. When Nuttall pricked her son's finger, she discovered his glucose level was 57 mg/dl -- a low level. "Luke was laying right next to me, just inches from me, and without Jedi I would have had no idea that he was dropping out of a safe range," Nuttall explained in a Facebook post that has since gone viral. "This is a picture of Jedi saving his boy." Facebook/Saving Luke At the age of two, Luke was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a form of the disease that only 5 percent of people with diabetes have, according to the American Diabetes Association . "We don't have a single member of our family [with diabetes]. I knew nothing about it. Nothing," Nuttall told CBS News. "A lot of kids die almost at diagnosis. People don't know the warning signs." Jedi's performs first 3 a.m. blood sugar check on Luke. Facebook/Saving Luke That's why Nuttall decided to share her son's story on Facebook , which highlights the unbreakable bond between a boy and his service dog. The first grader has tools, monitors and a continuous glucose monitoring system inserted under his skin to track his blood sugar levels. But perhaps his most useful alarm system: his dog Jedi. At just 11 weeks old, Jedi began training as a diabetic alert dog (DAD). Nea Continue reading >>
Cosmopolitan Club Helps Diabetic Woman Buy Alert Service Dog
Cosmopolitan Club helps diabetic woman buy alert service dog Rebecca Gunderson enjoys a warm greeting from her new diabetes alert service dog, Hero, Friday afternoon in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Rebecca Gundersons new best friend might be a dog. The former Gretna, Nebraska, resident received a diabetes alert service dog from Heads Up Hounds in Louisville, Nebraska Friday, thanks to assistance from the Council Bluffs Cosmopolitan Club. Im overwhelmed with joy, she said after spending the afternoon with her four-footed companion. The dog, fittingly named Hero, is trained to alert Gunderson when her blood sugar is too high or too low. I actually met her maybe a month ago, Gunderson said. It was, like, an instant connection. Gunderson, 24, received Hero, a chocolate Labrador mix, in Elkhorn, Nebraska a neutral location where she will stay for a few days and get used to working with her. The trainer will take us to as many public access places as possible so we can learn how to handle our dogs, she said. Her mother went with her Friday, and her father planned to go with her Saturday. Gunderson, a graduate student at University of Nebraska at Lincoln, has a friend at UNL who has a diabetes alert dog from the same company, she said. She has shown me time and time again how dogs alert, and Ive done so much research on the company and the trainer, she said. The dogs actually alert at least 15 minutes before my electronic equipment. Its really, really incredible. Its an extra precaution and the dog alerts at night, too. The Council Bluffs Cosmopolitan Club has launched a program, Paws Savings Lives, that offers supplemental funds to help people with diabetes who need help controlling their blood sugar levels purchase trained diabetes alert dogs. Members decided about a year ago to look Continue reading >>
Faith Wilson, Texas Girl, Relies On Diabetic Alert Dog, Ruby, To Detect Blood Sugar Levels (video)
Faith Wilson, Texas Girl, Relies On Diabetic Alert Dog, Ruby, To Detect Blood Sugar Levels (VIDEO) Mom Sarah Wilson considers Ruby part of the family. The diabetic alert dog came into her daughter's life about two years ago. And Wilson is confident 3-year-old Faith, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 9 months old, wouldn't be alive without her, KLTV reports. The girl's blood sugar levels can fluctuate to dangerous levels about 30 times per day, Wilson told KDAF last year. The first night the Wilsons spent the night with Ruby, the pup alerted Sarah four times, Wilson told the station. When sugar levels drop, the body releases a faint scent comparable to nail polish remover , ABC News explains. Dogs like Ruby are trained to detect the odor and take action by alerting the owner, or in this case, the owner's mother. However, diabetic alert dogs often come with a hefty price tag of about $10,000, KLTV notes. Although Ruby has been hailed as a hero by the Wilson family, the dog isn't the first to make headlines in recent months for helping a child in need. Earlier this year, goldennoodle puppy Mister Gibbs garnered media attention for helping Alida Knobloch with her heavy oxygen tank. The dog was trained to follow around the enthusiastic 3-year-old, who has neuroendocrine hyperplasia in infancy (NEHI), a rare lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe. Continue reading >>
Family Dog Helps Save Girl's Life During Diabetic Episode
Family dog helps save girl's life during diabetic episode Published Wednesday, April 22, 2015 9:19PM EDT A family dog may have helped save the life of a 12-year-old girl who has Type 1 diabetes after it woke up her mother in the middle of the night when her daughter's blood-glucose level had dropped dangerously low. Afreen Nagra was diagnosed with the chronic disease in 2013. Two weeks ago, Nagra was sleeping in her parents' bed when the family's 11-month-old Goldendoodle attempted to wake the girl's mother, who was sleeping beside her. "(Simba) started licking my face and pulling up the comforter and I was like, 'Whats happening?'" Savira Randhawa told CTV Toronto. Randhawa thought the dog had confused her for Nagra, so pushed it away. But the dog persisted and eventually Randhawa woke up. She saw her daughter was sweating profusely. Nagra was also not responding to her mother's request to have her blood-glucose level tested. "I was sweating a lot but I just didn't wake up," Nagra recalled. "It was around 2 a.m. and then Simba went to my mom. He took the blanket and started pulling it off of her." Randhawa gave her daughter some juice, before testing her blood-sugar level. "It was 2.3 mmol/L. That's really low," Nagra said. "Its really close to going into coma." The Canadian Diabetes Association says a level of 4 mmol/L or less is consider low-blood glucose, or hypoglycemia. Nagra saw her doctor the following day, who marveled at the dog's apparent ability to recognize danger. "I think I was lucky that day," Randhawa said. With a report from CTV Toronto's Pauline Chan A family dog may have helped save the life of a 12-year-old girl who has Type 1 diabetes after it woke up her mother in the middle of the night when her daughter's blood-glucose level had dropped dangero Continue reading >>
Diabetic Alert Dogs By Sdwr News Extended - Diabetic Alert Dogs By Sdwr
Light It Up Blue to support those in need, autism charities Organizers of the fifth annual Light It Up Blue event at the York Harbor Inn are planning to give back to the local community through this years ... Lifesaving Seizure Response Service Dog Delivered to 32-Year-Old Man in Newark, Delaware A 32-year-old man named Allan from Newark, Delaware has just received a lifesaving Seizure Response service dog from Service Dogs by Warren Retriev... Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers Delivers Autism Service Dog to 24-Year-Old Man in Whitehouse Station, NJ Ryan, a 24-year-old living in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, received an exceptional Autism Service Dog delivery today from Service Dogs by ... Iowa family hoping to get service dog for daughter with autism, epilepsy They say dog is man's best friend. But an eastern Iowa family says a service dog could become more than just a friend to their daughter. It could ... Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers Offers a Lifetime Training Guarantee Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers, or SDWR is known for its customized training methods and proprietary scent training for their service dogs ... Highly Trained Autism Service Dog to Assist 11-Year-Old Child in Livingston, New Jersey Aiden, an eleven-year-old boy in Livingston, NJ, received a very special Autism Service Dog delivery today from Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers. ... Survivor; a Diabetic Alert Dog saved my life Living in a constant state of fear, one mother is trying anything to help her daughter live a normal life with type 1 diabetes. They're learning ... Highly Trained PTSD Service Dog to Assist Woman in Peru, Indiana Jennifer from Peru, Indiana received a very special delivery today of her very own custom trained PTSD Service Dog. Jennifer's service dog, Geer, ... Fundraisin Continue reading >>
The Dog That Helps Little Girl With Her Diabetes
The Dog That Helps Little Girl with Her Diabetes The Doctors are joined by Sophia, who has Type 1 diabetes, and her mother, Stephanie, along with Carleigh, who is training the adorable dog Honey to be a diabetic alert dog. Subscribe to The Doctors: bit.ly/SubscribeTheDrs LIKE us on Facebook: bit.ly/FacebookTheDoctors Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly/TheDrsTwitter Follow us on Pinterest: bit.ly/PinterestTheDrs The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show hosted by ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon, OB-GYN Dr. Jennifer Ashton, urologist Dr. Jennifer Berman and family medicine physician and sexologist Dr. Rachael Ross. The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, such as the ice bucket challenge for ALS and the Ebola outbreak; delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, such as Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, reality stars Honey Boo Boo and Mama June and activist Chaz Bono; brings you debates about health and safety claims from agricultural company Monsanto and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy; and shows you the latest gross viral videos and explains how you can avoid an emergency situation. The Doctors also features the News in 2:00 digest of the latest celebrity health news and The Doctors Prescription for simple steps to get active, combat stress, eat better and live healthier. Now in its eighth season, The Doctors celebrity guests have included Academy Award Winners Sally Field, Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Marcia Gay Harden, Kathy Bates and Marisa Tomei; reality stars from Teen Mom and The Real Housewives, as well as Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Melissa Rivers, Sharon Osbourne, Tim Gunn and Amber Rose; actors Jessica Alba, Christina Applegate, Julie Bowen, Patricia Heaton, Chevy Chas Continue reading >>
Medical-alert Dog Helps Girl With Diabetes Stay Healthier
Elle Shaheen, 13, rehearses a dance routine with the Boston Childrens Theater summer camp at Governors Academy in Byfield as her helper dog, Coach, watches by her side. BYFIELD Sweltering in a rehearsal room during a recent heat wave, the teenage performers sang and danced their way through Aquarius and other numbers for the Boston Childrens Theatre summer production of Hair. The director and his team watched intently. Only Coach failed to pay much attention. He found the soft side of a rolled-up rug and settled down for a nap. But when performer Elle Shaheens blood sugar level dropped amid the heat and activity, Coach knew even before Elle did. He roused himself from his comfortable spot, strolled over, and nudged her. Elle, 13, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 8, knew immediately what he meant: Time to check your sugar. Coach, a yellow Labrador retriever, has made Elles life with diabetes safer and easier. [Having him] is like a sigh of relief, especially once he first did it, said Elle, who pronounces her name Ellie. Because like, oh my gosh, now I know this is actually going to work, and its going to be an amazing journey for both of us and my whole family. The day's top stories delivered every morning The theater company prides itself on accommodating student needs. Summer camp members gather around an instructor during a break in a rehearsal, having adopted Coach the medical-alert dog as part of their surroundings. Honestly, its not required, but if Elle needed to have her dog with her on stage,then we would find a way to do that. Last year we had a student who had crutches, and we cast him in James and the Giant Peach, and we incorporated his crutches right into his costume as the centipede, said executive artistic director Burgess Clark, who Continue reading >>
A Nose That Knows: Diabetic Alert Dog Helps New Paris Girl
A day in the sun for 10-year-old Kaeclin Shepard is accompanied by the shadow of a special friend. Charli can catch more than just a Frisbee. Shes called a diabetic alert dog. "Type 1 Diabetes can be life or death, Kari Shepard says. Her daughter, 10-year-old Kaeclin, lives with Type 1 Diabetes. "It's Charli's favorite game is to get my blood sugar, Kaeclin says. "She can save my life." Kaeclin says Charli is trained to detect her blood sugar levels. Her pancreas produces little or no insulin. So she wears a Central Glucose Monitor, but if Kaeclin drops suddenly, theres danger. "If she dropped too low in her sleep, she could go into a coma. She could die, Shepard says. Kaeclin has been hospitalized because of her diabetes. She was first diagnosed when she was six. She lives a round-the-clock routine of checking her blood sugar before eating and playing...and counting carbs. "It feels like there's something like always on you that people might not know about, Kaeclin says. About a year ago when the Shepard family heard about a company called Heads up Hounds there was hope in sight or scent. The company only trains rescue dogs. Essentially we saved her life, and they have trained her to save Kaeclin's life now, Shepard says. It's a one-of-kind bond. Charli's service dog training means that only Kaeclin can touch her. When she's rapidly rising, or when she's rapidly dropping to a dangerous level, Charli will take her nose and she will bump her hand or our hand to alert us that we need to check her blood sugar, Shepard says. Kaeclin used a sample of her saliva when she had low blood sugar to train Charli to get help when Kaeclin needs a sugar source or insulin shot. "Her nose can save her life, mom Shepard says. She keeps her safe." Doctors are still trying to understand h Continue reading >>
Diabetic Alert Dog
There are many tools to use in dealing with diabetes, and the Diabetic Alert Dog is one more tool to add to the toolbox used to help families deal with their child who has diabetes. With the use of a Diabetic Alert Dog the child can gain the independence they need as they grow up and mature and the parents are not afraid to allow them to do so. Here at 4 Paws we place Diabetic Alert Dogs with children who have insulin-dependent Type 1 Diabetes. As with all medical alert dogs, Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to smell the chemical body changes that occur as the insulin levels increase or drop. When a child is experiencing a high or low, their body is releasing chemicals that change their typical scent. A 4 Paws Dog with the right training in scent-based work is able to respond to those chemical changes, at the onset of the changes long before any adverse medical reactions occur, by alerting the parents or caregivers to the change at its onset. The parents and/or child are then able to check their blood sugar level and take appropriate action. Training Diabetic Alert Dogs for children means that we must train a dog that is unique in its ability to meet the needs of both the child with diabetes and the child’s family. Most agencies do not work with children, especially very young children. Here at 4 Paws we have no minimum age requirement and believe strongly in early intervention. In addition to the alert work, these dogs provide a measure of comfort for the child, increased self-esteem and confidence, a distraction during unpleasant medical procedures, and of course companionship. USA WEEKEND recently published an article on Megan Rittinger and her service dog, Pip. Full story . . . Continue reading >>
Diabetic Girl And Yellow Lab Bond While He Works To Keep Her Alive
Yahoo!-ABC News Network | 2018 ABC News Internet Ventures. All rights reserved. Diabetic Girl and Yellow Lab Bond While He Works to Keep Her Alive Coach may look like an ordinary dog, but he's Elle Shaheen's guardian angel. Coach may look like an ordinary dog, but the yellow Labrador retriever is anything but. Hes Elle Shaheen's guardian angel. Coach works 24 hours every day to keep the 15-year-old Portsmouth, New Hampshire, girl alive. Elle has Type 1 diabetes . If her blood sugar is too low, she could have a seizure. If its too high, she could sustain serious, permanent damage. Elles parents say they first noticed a change in their daughter about seven years ago. She was very irritable at times for no real reason, her mother, Stefany Shaheen, told ABC News in an interview on Tuesday. "We couldn't really explain it. She was having trouble in her math class, which happened to fall after breakfast. And then, right before her diagnosis, she was clearly really sick." Added Craig Welch, Stefany Shaheen's husband and Elles father: "Any parent who experiences that wants to trade places with (their child)." Lifesaving Service Dog Sniffs Out Girl's Disease, Even in Operating Room Elle, a granddaughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, said she had to test her blood sugar between 10 and 12 times every day. "And I had to take insulin shots every time I ate, every time my blood sugar was high, and every time before I went to bed," she said. Elle had to be monitored continuously. Then, her family learned about diabetes alert dogs, which can smell changes in blood sugar and signal immediately. It takes at least 2,000 hours to train a service dog, according to Sarah Holbert, the CEO of Cares, Inc., a Kansas organization that provides assistance dogs to people across the country. "We're d Continue reading >>
Sniffing Out Disease: How A Dog Named Moxie Is Giving A Little Girl A New Leash On Life | Cuteness
How A Dog Named Moxie Is Giving A Little Girl A New Leash On Life How A Dog Named Moxie Is Giving A Little Girl A New Leash On Life Dogs don't usually get to go to Disneyland, but for Moxie, a diabetic alert dog, wading through the crowds and riding rides at the Happiest Place on Earth is just part of the job. Moxie works as a service dog, helping monitor 5-year-old Juniper, a little girl with Type 1 diabetes. "She's pretty much game for anything," Juniper's mom, Lisa Pool, explains about the 3-year-old black Labrador retriever, whose gleaming black coat contrasts with her bright red service-dog vest, and that includes their recent family trip to Disneyland on a 100-degree day. "You think you attract a lot of attention with five kids and a service dog, but then having a service dog with shoes," exclaims Lisa. "Everyone was talking about her shoes." Moxie spends her days by Juniper's side, because she's trained to detect when Juniper's blood sugar goes above or below the normal range, even at Disneyland. Easing into an outdoor table at a local Starbucks in Oceanside, California, Juniper's older sisters, Penelope, 10, and Adelaide, 7, introduce themselves and Moxie. All three sisters have matching teal color added to their hair, which Adelaide tells me they did together. As we talked, Juniper was feeling shy, so she clung near her mom and her beloved Moxie, who lay calm and relaxed. But in a moment, Moxie's demeanor changed. She stood up, face focused, nose in the air. Then she sat decisively in front of Lisa and nudged the mother's knee with her paw. Moxie had just "alerted" Lisa that she sensed Juniper's blood sugar was out of the normal range. Lisa pulled out Juniper's brightly patterned testing kit to test Juniper's blood sugar levels. Moxie was right. Juniper's bloo Continue reading >>
