Dogs for Diabetics

Dogs for Diabetics, also known as Dogs4Diabetics, provides trained assistance dogs to alert people with type 1 diabetes. Dogs for Diabetics dogs are trained to identify and act upon the subtle scent changes that hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) creates in body chemistry. Dogs for Diabetics primarily trains Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and crosses of these two breeds.

Dogs for Diabetics is a charitable, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of all insulin-dependent diabetics, empowering individuals, children and families to achieve lifelong successes with their disease. To fulfill this mission, Dogs4Diabetics provides quality medical alert dogs to insulin-dependent diabetics through programs of training, placement, and follow-up services. Dogs4Diabetics strives to set high standards for medical alert service and to be recognized as an organization of dedication, integrity, and service. The organization is a fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International.

Dogs4Diabetics assistance dogs have been specifically trained to identify, and more importantly, act upon the subtle scent changes that hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) creates in body chemistry—changes undetectable to their human companions.

History

Dogs For Diabetics, Inc., began in 2000 when its founder began researching the possibility of training dogs to detect type 1 diabetes–related hypoglycemia and physically alert the diabetic to the impending hypoglycemia. In October 2003, a dog named Armstrong was obtained from Guide Dogs for the Blind, and the scent training and alert training was started. Armstrong enjoyed his new "career" and was soon alerting on diabetes-related hypoglycemia.

Today, dogs are obtained primarily from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California and Boring, OR and retrained for diabetic alert work. Dogs for Diabetics has also obtained dogs from Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa, California.

Dogs4Diabetics is considered to be the international leader in advancing the research and utility of medical assistance dogs. As part of the continuing mission, Dogs4Diabetics participates in research with major pharmaceutical companies and health care organizations to both improve the lives of type 1 diabetics and to better understand what the canine is capable of assisting their human partners.

From mid-2007-early 2008, the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls California jurisdiction helped this organization with a significant grant. The grant was used to furnish and establish a computer network in the new Dogs4Diabetics-Nylabone Training Center, located in Concord, California.

Dogs For Diabetics, Inc. is accredited by Assistance Dogs International.

References

http://www.dogs4diabetics.com/index.html - Information about programs and services provided by Dogs for Diabetics