Dr Kelly Fleming

A service dog is trained for many needs.

• Special Skills for people with physical disabilities
• Canine Vision for those who are blind or who have severe low vision
• Seizure Alert
• Diabetic Alert – alerts a person when their blood sugar is dropping
• Autism Assist – usually for children with autism, they accompany a child and give them independence

Things my service dogs have done for me :

• Assisted me to roll over in bed
• Assisted me to get out of bed
• Safety in the bathroom
• Opened non-power doors and close them
• Opened power doors
• Picked things up for me
• Got things off shelves at home and in stores
• Heard for me and alerted me when someone came to the door, let me know if someone was near when we were outside
• Helped me to know where the sidewalk is and where there is grass
• Safely guided me across a street
• Stayed with me when I had a seizure or I was ill
• Alerted others in the house when I fell or had a seizure
• Went to the hospital with me and comforted me on a gurney in the ER
• Helped my mental health

And so much more that I cannot list.

A service dog is not a pet. He or she may also be a companion when resting from work at home. They enjoy the same things as other non-working dogs. They love to play, enjoy cuddles and body rubs.

When a person loses a pet, it can be quite devastating as they provide comfort, companionship and so much more.

When a person loses a service dog, they lose a part of their independence. A service dog remains by their human every minute of every day. Even when they are “just being a regular dog”, they are still on alert to work.

I have lost three service dogs (2008, 2012 and 2023). The very first day and night, I realize part of my independence is gone.

Having a special skills dog is like having a canine PSW.

I have human PSWs who come everyday to assist me with my basic needs. They are not with me 24 hours a day, unlike my canine PSW.

My dogs are trained by the Lions Foundation Dog Guides of Canada.

I am currently on the list for a successor dog, however due to the pandemic, they had to close the school for a year. This means the wait list for a successor dog is quite long. It may be up to 18 months before I receive another dog.

I cannot imagine how much my life and my independence will be affected during this long wait.

I’m extremely grateful for all the things my dogs have done over the past 21 years. The independence they gave me.

Not only did I lose my “attached to my hip” canine PSW, I lost a part of me. I lost my arms, my ears, my eyes which he gave me each day.