A MAJOR Event

One of the first comments we get after telling someone that we train service dogs (after, "That's so COOL!") is, "Isn't it hard to give them up?"  Our answer is, "Of course-- but it's so rewarding because you know they are finally doing what they were born to do!"

Transfer of handler

Recently we had to put our words into action.  After twenty months with Major (since birth), it was time to place him in his forever home serving as a Diabetes Alert Dog for Marie* who has lived with Type 1 diabetes for decades.  This lovely woman has intentionally allowed her blood sugar to run high because of the fear of being low-- a real fear that nags all those who live with Type 1.

Shopping with Major

When a diabetic has lived with the disease for a span of years, they eventually develop "hypoglycemic unawareness" which is the inability to tell that their blood sugar is dangerously low.  Normally, the body sends out signals such as nausea, trembling, sweats, etc. to alert to the low; but over time of frequent low blood sugars, the body does a reset and thinks this is the new normal and stops sounding the alarm.  Without getting sugar into the bloodstream in the form of carbohydrates, the diabetic will eventually experience seizures, pass out, and die in a very short amount of time.  This is the scary reality that all diabetics and their families live with.

Enter Major.  This tall, dark, and handsome gentleman has been specially trained to alert Marie when

her blood sugar is falling into the danger zone.  How?  There is a universal smell for low blood sugar (just like bacon or coffee) and we taught him to recognize it and "alert" when he smells it.

In addition to teaching the scent and the alert, Major has been trained to retrieve the blood glucose meter and to fetch a juice from the fridge to correct the low blood sugar.  Marie also requested that he be able to open the door for her and retrieve her cell phone.  Super dog!

In reality, Major is NOT a superhero-- he's just a dog using his amazing God-given sense of smell to change a life for the better.

*Names have been changed