- Guide dogs assist the blind and the visually impaired.
- Signal dogs help the deaf and the hard of hearing.
- And service dogs are trained to help people with a variety of disabilities. For example, some dogs alert people to seizures or other medical problems, pick up objects, open and close doors, operate light switches, or even pull wheelchairs. Some service dogs are able to help patients relearn to walk, keep their balance, and get up from a fall.
It's
remarkable what seizure response dogs can do: summon help by
activating a medical alert or pre-programmed phone, pull dangerous
objects away from the seizing patient's body, block the seizing
patient from obstacles or streets, rouse the unconscious patient
after a seizure, and carry information, medication, and oxygen. It
takes a really special dog to be able to serve in this position!
Medical
response dogs can be trained to sense (and I'm guessing this means
“smell”) when a diabetic patient's blood sugar is too low or too
high, and they often bring medications or the telephone when needed.
Celebrate!
You
might want to donate to Paws with a Cause or another organization
dedicated to getting service dogs into the hands of people that need
them.
Also
on this date:
