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Four year old Sadie has Down’s Syndrome and Type 1 Diabetes. Keeping her blood sugar levels within a safe range is sometimes difficult for the parents of the adorable little girl.
That was, until one very special Labrador, aptly named Hero, joined the family.
Hero is a trained diabetic alert dog and can warn Sadie’s parents when her blood sugar levels aren’t within a safe range, often times well before technology can. He’s been taught to alert Sadie’s family when something’s not right.
“I’ll hold out my hands and say, what is it? and he’ll paw for, paw my left hand for a low, and he’ll nose my right hand for a high,” Sadie’s mom, Michelle explained to KUTV.
While Hero’s ability to detect Sadie’s blood sugar when they’re together is amazing in itself, something remarkable happened last December.
Hero stayed home one afternoon while Sadie went off to school more than five miles away. Her family had checked her blood sugar that morning and her levels were normal – but Hero began acting strangely.
“He’s normally a very quiet dog. Whining is not in his protocol. But he just started whining and he would not stop,” Michelle said.
It became obvious that Hero was trying to alert Michelle to her daughter’s blood sugar levels. But how was this possible? While dogs have been proven to be able to detect scents from up to 2 miles away, Sadie was more than 5 miles away at school.
Still, Hero persisted enough to prompt Michelle to contact Sadie’s school and ask them to check her blood sugar levels. When she called the school, Sadie’s levels were fine. Within 30 minutes, they dropped to dangerously low levels.
No one understands how Hero sensed Sadie was in trouble from so far away. But one thing’s for certain, dogs have abilities and senses that are far beyond our understanding.
“I’ve always called Sadie our little angel, and I think Hero was a little angel sent into our lives to watch over her,” Sadie’s dad said.
Nancy Liesmann
May 1, 2016 at 10:51 am
That dog looks abused to me ! He’s so fat, he looks as if he can’t move! To allow that to happen to any animal is a crime!
Greg Brooks
May 3, 2016 at 12:50 am
You don’t know the whole story. Why don’t you you think before you open your ignorant mouth!
Valleygirl
Jul 17, 2016 at 6:35 pm
Greg Brooks…I don’t think the lady was being ignorant, but rather, she is concerned for the health and well being of the animal just as much as the animal is protecting the little girl to the best of his abilities. If he dies of an overburdened heart or organs because of his terrible obesity, it will be too late to get help for him.
Valleygirl
Jul 17, 2016 at 6:33 pm
I agree wholeheartedly…this poor dog is way too obese. Surely the society that supplies these dogs would checking on it’s welfare, and seeing that something is done to help the dog, before he dies from an overburdened heart, or other organs. Poor thing 🙁
Frances
Apr 29, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Hero is remarkable. Hope someone puts him on a diet so he will be around a long time and not end up having health issues of his own.
Valleygirl
Jul 17, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Frances: I wonder if Hero is still alive? Do they feel he’s dispensable, and aren’t concerned for his weight? Very sad. 🙁