When someone has multiple seizures every day, privacy isn害羞草研究所檛 a luxury they害羞草研究所檙e really afforded.

Before Surrey害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭here was somebody always checking up on me or with me, all the time,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所� 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.

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

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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害羞草研究所檛 affect her ability to function, or not very much.

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

Even though MacWilliams can usually sense some seizure warning signs herself, it still surprises her how quickly Venta will know 害羞草研究所� even if MacWilliams herself doesn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檛 swim back to shore, Venta 害羞草研究所� who hates water 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檒l get the help she needs when she needs it, she noted.

害羞草研究所淰enta is very calm and so sweet. She害羞草研究所檚 fun and inquisitive, too!害羞草研究所� MacWilliams said.

While she still doesn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所� phone, her medication 害羞草研究所� if she is suffering a seizure 害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所� the Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檙e placed with foster families for initial, basic training while they grow. When they害羞草研究所檙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.

害羞草研究所淚t is a tremendous charity, and it makes such a difference in peoples害羞草研究所� lives,害羞草研究所� MacWilliams said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 life-saving, too.害羞草研究所�

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