Pickens County Woman Attempting To Get Specially Trained Dog

A woman suffering from diabetes is on the verge of getting a dog that will help detect when she could go into diabetic shock.

Cheri Wentzel is a music minister at a church. She also suffers from a severe case of diabetes that has led her to check on options that could help prevent her from going into a diabetic coma.

Wentzel learned about a study that was performed that showed dogs could detect when a person with diabetes could suffer diabetes related shock. It was a study that she found fascinating, especially since she had gone into shock several times while sleeping.

“My husband works at night,” Wentzel said. “I had a few episodes where that happened and then I learned of the study. I’m hoping that this study will help and once I can get the dog, it will be able to warn me if it starts to happen again.”

Wentzel contacted Amazing Tails, a non-profit organization in Delaware that helps train “service” dogs to assist people with physical disabilities. After applying, she was selected to go through an intensive training program that will hopefully help her get the dog she needs.

“It’s a long process,” she said. “You have to do so much and come up with the right match.”

Currently, Wentzel is attempting to raise funds to get the dog that has been selected for her. The dog, an eight month old bouvier, would help balance her while walking, alert her when her blood-sugar level gets too high or low, assist her with climbing and descending stairs and help retrieve items.

During her efforts to help get the specially trained dog, Wentzel has held several fundraisers, including one over the fourth of July weekend. The outcome was not quite what she had hoped for, but she remains positive that the financial situation will balance out in the end.

“The money will work itself out,” she said. “I am confident that there are people who will help me with this opportunity. It’s not just for me, but it will help save more dogs that can be trained to detect these types of disabilities. It’s a great program and I am very hopeful.”

Once the funds are raised, Wentzel says that the dog could be trained and brought back to her upstate home by early 2012.

If you would like to help with Wentzel’s fundraising efforts you can contact her at (864) 421-3431. To contact Amazing Tails about their program you can click here http://amazingservicedogs.com/ or call (717) 529-6875.