When someone has multiple seizures every day, privacy isn91裸聊视频檛 a luxury they91裸聊视频檙e really afforded.

Before Surrey91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭here was somebody always checking up on me or with me, all the time,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淏efore, I didn91裸聊视频檛 have any independence at all. You feel 91裸聊视频� almost like you91裸聊视频檙e not quite grown up,91裸聊视频� MacWilliams said, noting that Venta gives her more independence. 91裸聊视频淣ow, if I go for a bath, Venta will come in with me and lie on the mat.91裸聊视频�

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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 won91裸聊视频檛 affect her ability to function, or not very much.

91裸聊视频淚 might trip or pause in a sentence, but I91裸聊视频檓 still functioning,91裸聊视频� she explained. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 when seizures get to be over 10 seconds and in groups 91裸聊视频� clusters 91裸聊视频� that (Venta) tends to notice things are not right. Clusters 91裸聊视频� can lead to much worse seizures, and she can tell when it91裸聊视频檚 a large seizure or clusters 91裸聊视频� when I91裸聊视频檓 becoming less capable of doing things or have a chance of losing consciousness.91裸聊视频�

Even though MacWilliams can usually sense some seizure warning signs herself, it still surprises her how quickly Venta will know 91裸聊视频� even if MacWilliams herself doesn91裸聊视频檛 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 swim back to shore, Venta 91裸聊视频� who hates water 91裸聊视频� 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 she91裸聊视频檒l get the help she needs when she needs it, she noted.

91裸聊视频淰enta is very calm and so sweet. She91裸聊视频檚 fun and inquisitive, too!91裸聊视频� MacWilliams said.

While she still doesn91裸聊视频檛 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 MacWilliams91裸聊视频� phone, her medication 91裸聊视频� if she is suffering a seizure 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� the Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides 91裸聊视频� 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, they91裸聊视频檙e placed with foster families for initial, basic training while they grow. When they91裸聊视频檙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.

91裸聊视频淚t is a tremendous charity, and it makes such a difference in peoples91裸聊视频� lives,91裸聊视频� MacWilliams said.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 life-saving, too.91裸聊视频�

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