Doggone Amazing
The Associated Press reports that an unassuming beagle named Belle has been honored for saving the life of her owner. Kevin Weaver, who has type 1 diabetes, collapsed and went into a seizure as a result of a low blood sugar. Belle retrieved Kevin's cell phone and dialed 9-1-1 with her teeth. Both beagle and human are now doing fine.
Trained service dogs that alert their owners to hypoglycemia are actually not that rare (although canine cell phone dialing is a singularly unique skill). In 2005, dLifeTV featured a segment on Heaven Scent Paws, a facility dedicated to training diabetes service dogs. While on the set, Delta, a German Shepherd, sensed a low blood sugar in her human companion and immediately alerted both parent and child while the cameras rolled. Truly amazing to watch.
I would like to say tahtbI have a Diabetic Alert Service Dog from HSP and she is a God send for me. I've had Type 1 Diabetes for over 20 years now and Kora, my furry companion, has already saved me from serious lows and highs in just the 2 months or so taht we have been together. Now there are A LOT of people and other companies that are trashing Heaven Scent Paws and I would just want DLife to continue their support of Heaven Scent Paws and their founder Michele Reinkemeyer, as she has truly and genuienly dedicated herself to helping so many families, adults and shildren with a tool to help us in our fight with Type 1 Diabetes. It's just a blazing shame taht people aren't willing to so their part and then blame the program and have to be so spiteful. Please help HSP and allow them to continue the work that they have graciously done to help others with this horrible and deadly disease!!!
Barbara Valles, Tampa, Fl.