Two heroic hounds are on their way to transforming the lives of Bromley diabetics – by training to detect potentially deadly changes in insulin levels.
Five-year-old Alessandra Williams, of Erickson Gardens and 26-year-old Steffany Mortlock, of Palace Road, both have a rare form of Type 1 Diabetes and no awareness of when their blood sugar levels rise or fall.
This means they frequently collapse and are in constant danger of falling into a diabetic coma with no prior warning.
The diabetic alert dogs are trained to sniff out changes in their partners' breath signalling an oncoming hypo- or hyperglycaemic attack
Their parents and carers were up every hour during the night checking on them to prevent them from falling into a diabetic coma as they slept.
But with specially trained assistance dogs who can sniff out dangerously high or low blood sugar and sound the alarm with a woof or the touch of a paw, their lives are about to change.
Kent-based charity Hypo Hounds has six alert dogs in training to help diabetics like Alessandra and Steffany.
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The pooches are presented with samples of their partners’ breath when they have high or low blood sugar so they can recognise the scent in an emergency and sound the alarm with a lick, a nudge, a paw or a simple woof.
Positive reinforcement is a key technique in the laborious tailored training process, and dogs are rewarded with a treat – for example, cheese – if they identify the smell and react with a warning.
Alessandra’s mother Donna Bungay Williams said her daughter and her five-month-old dog partner Rosie are already inseparable, and more importantly, her canine companion is already improving her daily life.
She said: “Rosie has already responded to Alessandra’s breath samples during training exercises and to think that she will be doing this and saving my little girl’s life is just remarkable – she has given Alessandra back her childhood.”
"Rosie has given Alessandra back her childhood.”
Steffany is starting to regain her independence with the help of her own medically trained mutt Eva.
She said: “I can now be left home alone without a carer as my partner knows that Eva will keep me safe.
“I can go out for walks and shopping without fear of collapsing.”
Jane Pearman set up Hypo Hounds in May of this year to serve the diabetic community in Kent after the success of her own daughter’s diabetic alert dog Scooby at Crufts 2016 as a finalist in the Friends for Life category.
To make a donation or learn more about the work Hypo Hounds does in the Bromley area, go to www.hypohounds.co.uk.
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