Personally, I’m a cat person, but I’ve never had any doubt that Dog is Man’s best friend. And this story has pretty much solidified that concept for me.
Sam Sutcliffe lives with a condition called POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), which is characterized by lightheadedness and dizziness when a person stands up from a prone position.
Sam refers to these episodes as “blackouts,” and they are, oftentimes, unpredictable–whether she’s walking down a hallway at work, shopping with her friends, or cooking food for her husband and daughter at home. More times than not, Sam’s blackouts have led to serious injury or life-threatening close calls.
“[W]e had no quality of life,” says Sam, as reported by the Telegraph. In fact, Sam was forced to give up driving, her job, and the majority of her independence.
Enter Charlie, a two-year-old black lab.
When Sam and Charlie met, she knew it was meant to be. And then Charlie did the unbelievable.
During their first week together, Charlie began to lick Sam’s hand, displaying a behavior that, according to the trainer, was unlike him. Five minutes later, Sam experienced a blackout. Charlie preemptively alerted Sam to blackouts six more times in the first week alone! Perhaps Charlie really was meant to be. He has since undergone formal training to become a medical alert assistance dog.
With Charlie, Sam is able to enjoy life again.
She feels better leaving the house and her friends feel more comfortable hanging out with her because they know Charlie will be there to prepare Sam for a blackout. If Charlie ever detects the possibility of a looming blackout, he will lick Sam’s hand and literally stare at her until she finds a safe place, whether it’s lying down on a couch or sitting against a wall.
And get this…
“If I try to climb stairs before an episode, he will literally block the way with his body to stop me placing myself in danger,” says Sam.
Guide/Assistance/Detection dogs are in high-demand and thus aren’t cheap. In the UK, on average, they cost over 11,000 euros just to train, plus normal pet expenses. Most training programs are not funded by the government; instead, money is raised through charity–which means people in need tend to have to wait over three years to meet their helpful furry friends.
Sam claims much of her gratitude is with the Medical Detection Dogs charity in the UK. If you are interesting in helping out, consider donating! Every penny counts.
