Diabetic Alert Dog Delivered to 6-Year-Old Girl with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Chestertown, MD

Chestertown, MD, July 18, 2018 --(PR.com)-- Brooke, a 6-year-old girl in Chestertown, Maryland, received a very special delivery today of her very own, a Diabetic Alert Service Dog from Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers. Based in Madison, Virginia, Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers, or “SDWR,” has a mission to provide specially-bred and trained dogs for people of all ages that struggle with living with invisible disabilities such as Autism, PTSD, Seizure Disorders, or in the case of Brooke—Type 1 Diabetes. SDWR has hundreds of working service dogs placed around the globe and is currently serving approximately 1,000 families.

Case, a black Labrador Retriever Diabetic Alert Dog, has already received countless hours of training through SDWR’s service dog raiser program where volunteers raise puppies in training for approximately one year. The dogs and raisers must follow through the foundation and skill set training provided through SDWR trainers at the facility in Virginia.

Case is also an honored graduate of the SDWR Fallen Officer Puppy Program. The Fallen Officer Puppy Program, or “FOPP,” is an initiative by SDWR to honor the legacy of service by fallen American police who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Case is named in honor of fallen hero Police Officer Stacy Lynn Case of the Columbia Police Department in South Carolina who was killed in a vehicle crash in 2015. Case’s work as a Diabetic Alert Service Dog with Brooke will carry on in memoriam of Officer Case’s life of service before self.

Brooke was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus shortly after her 4th birthday. In the prior 3 to 4 months, Brooke had lost weight and had developed symptoms of frequent urination and thirst. Over the past 2 and a half years, Brooke has been started on an Insulin Pump as well as a Dexcom monitor to try and help control her diabetes. Brooke has to check her glucose levels constantly, sometimes 8 to 10 times a day. In addition, Brooke’s Mom and Dad have to check her blood glucose levels throughout the night. Brooke’s parents are hopeful that with the addition of a service dog it will help make their lives a little easier managing her diabetes while also providing Broke with a sense of independence and security.

SDWR uses a proprietary scent training method to teach Diabetic Alert Dogs to detect fluctuations in blood sugar that fall outside of a handler’s healthy range. Since Case is a service dog and covered under laws in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or "ADA," he will be able to accompany Brooke and her family everywhere—from church, to softball games, even to Hershey Park on family vacations.

During the upcoming 18 months, SDWR will return to Brooke’s home every 3-4 months to continue working on Case’s customized training, follow up training and training the human to make a successful team and public access certification. This certification can only be given to Brooke after a progression of hard work and dedication to the SDWR training program. This training program is what sets SDWR apart from other nonprofit service dog organizations.

Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization based in Madison, Virginia, and relies on donations to help the organization in its mission, “Until there’s a cure…there’s a dog.” To make a donation or learn more about SDWR, please visit the website, www.sdwr.org. To learn more about Diabetic Alert Service Dogs visit www.sdwr.org/service-dogs/diabetic-alert/. To learn more about SDWR’s Fallen Officer Puppy Program visit www.sdwr.org/fallen-officer-puppy-program/.