When someone has multiple seizures every day, privacy isn含羞草研究社檛 a luxury they含羞草研究社檙e really afforded.

Before Surrey含羞草研究社檚 Sherry-Lynne MacWilliams received a dog trained to help with her seizures, she was unable to be alone, unmonitored by nearby family members, because she has epilepsy-related seizures often.

含羞草研究社淭here was somebody always checking up on me or with me, all the time,含羞草研究社� she said.

Even when going to have a bath, she would have to leave the door ajar a little, just in case anything happened.

Then she and her family were able to get Venta, a Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide trained in seizure response 含羞草研究社� despite a COVID-19 pandemic-related delay.

In addition to training for people who are blind or visually impaired, dog guides are specially trained to help meet the needs of people with hearing, medical and physical disabilities, epilepsy, autism and diabetes, and for professional agencies assisting people in traumatic situations.

含羞草研究社淏efore, I didn含羞草研究社檛 have any independence at all. You feel 含羞草研究社� almost like you含羞草研究社檙e not quite grown up,含羞草研究社� MacWilliams said, noting that Venta gives her more independence. 含羞草研究社淣ow, if I go for a bath, Venta will come in with me and lie on the mat.含羞草研究社�

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She can close the door if she wishes, as Venta will alert her family with barking if she sees her having a seizure, or senses one about to happen.

When Venta detects the chemical change that occurs approximately 15 minutes before her guardian has a seizure, she alerts MacWilliams to sit down in a safe place and goes and gets her medicine, cellphone or a family member.

People with epilepsy experience seizures in different ways, MacWilliams noted, and while she may have several small seizures in a day, they often won含羞草研究社檛 affect her ability to function, or not very much.

含羞草研究社淚 might trip or pause in a sentence, but I含羞草研究社檓 still functioning,含羞草研究社� she explained. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 when seizures get to be over 10 seconds and in groups 含羞草研究社� clusters 含羞草研究社� that (Venta) tends to notice things are not right. Clusters 含羞草研究社� can lead to much worse seizures, and she can tell when it含羞草研究社檚 a large seizure or clusters 含羞草研究社� when I含羞草研究社檓 becoming less capable of doing things or have a chance of losing consciousness.含羞草研究社�

Even though MacWilliams can usually sense some seizure warning signs herself, it still surprises her how quickly Venta will know 含羞草研究社� even if MacWilliams herself doesn含羞草研究社檛 feel off in any way.

She remembered being at the family cabin last year, swimming in water that was quite deep. Venta, who was standing on the shore 15 feet away, started barking madly. When Sherry-Lynne didn含羞草研究社檛 swim back to shore, Venta 含羞草研究社� who hates water 含羞草研究社� dove in and started dragging her to the dock. Minutes after Sherry-Lynne had climbed out of the water, she had a massive seizure.

Since Venta has joined the family, MacWilliams and her husband and adult children have been able to relax, knowing she含羞草研究社檒l get the help she needs when she needs it, she noted.

含羞草研究社淰enta is very calm and so sweet. She含羞草研究社檚 fun and inquisitive, too!含羞草研究社� MacWilliams said.

While she still doesn含羞草研究社檛 venture too far from home too often, having Venta means that MacWilliams can now occasionally go to a nearby mall or maybe a walk around the block every now and then, as long as Venta is with her. The smart canine companion is trained to fetch MacWilliams含羞草研究社� phone, her medication 含羞草研究社� if she is suffering a seizure 含羞草研究社� or help from a nearby person if needed.

It costs $35,000 to breed, train and place Dog Guides, which is why there is a walk 含羞草研究社� the Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides 含羞草研究社� taking place across B.C. on May 26 in numerous locations including South Delta, Victoria, Sidney, Nelson, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Alberni and Duncan, all in support of providing Dog Guides at no cost to their guardians.

When potential Dog Guides dogs are born, they含羞草研究社檙e placed with foster families for initial, basic training while they grow. When they含羞草研究社檙e old enough to meet potential handlers/guardians they might be a good match with, they then train for another several weeks with that person.

MacWilliams said there are several great reasons for people to support Dog Guides.

含羞草研究社淚t is a tremendous charity, and it makes such a difference in peoples含羞草研究社� lives,含羞草研究社� MacWilliams said.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 life-saving, too.含羞草研究社�

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