Thursday, January 26, 2012

The "Nut Free Zone": An Invisible Service Dog Job


“Hey mom, who is Anaphylaxis?”  “Is that a person or a rock group?”

 “Hello Goodee the Service Dog-- Nice of you to ask me instead of Google.”

“Well mom, you have to make the human feel good about themselves sometimes.”

"Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is life threatening."

“Oh wow mom now I remember our friend Teddy can go into Anaphylactic Shock just from being around things that have peanut products in them.”

“Yes that’s right Goodee!”  “Things that are in the air from peanut products or the hulls from the nuts can all cause Teddy a problem.”

     In the U.S, Peanut Allergy is on the rise. Some school districts have removed peanut products from their menus in favor of other healthy substitutes. Many districts still debate the point and take no action. Meanwhile our friend Teddy (age 9) and others have to go to school. 

     Many sources of peanut product are out there such as sweets, sauces, glazes and items containing peanut protein. There is also the risk of cross-contamination—even a small amount of peanut product coming in contact with a peanut-free product is a risk,
    
     Country Music Celebrity Trace Adkins describes the anxious feelings of a parent facing food allergies
 (See Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) Media Center. Retrieved 1/24/12 from http://www.foodallergy.org/page/a-conversation-with-trace-adkins)

There’s no cure but there is hope and independence in the form of  a detection device with four legs!

“Mom, they are called Medical Alert Service Dogs, or “Peanut Dogs.”

“Oh yes that’s right Goodee. How did you know? “

"Goodee the Service Dog has Facebook friends too you know. “ “Lucy the Labradoodle sent me a message telling me she is at school learning how to help Teddy.”—She will carry his medicine for him and alert him to peanut products so he can stay safely away from them.”

“That’s great Goodee the Service Dog. “ School can be expensive. How does a Service Dog pay their tuition bill?”

“Well, there’s a program where humans make tax deductible donations towards training.”
“Ok let’s tell our friend how to help.”


Donations can be made directly to Angel Service Dogs:
Mark your payment “Training for Lucy”
If you need information about Service Dogs for invisible health issues such as Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, Seizure Disorders, Hypoglycemic Unawareness, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury or spectrum disorders such as Aspergers or 
Autism--
Contact:
Sue Kindred at Guardian Angel Service Dogs Inc at the  link below:
Remember if you see a Service Dog out and about they are busy professionals.
You may admire at a distance. If you ask to stop and chat you may hear:

Not Now We Are Working!

DD & GOODEE
GoodeeWorks Productions
GoodeeWorks@gmail.com