Diabetes service dog to accompany freshman on campus

Описание: Ninth grader Mason Mayeda met Buddy, his new best friend, in front of the Hawaii Baptist Academy high school student body on Tuesday (May 23).
Buddy, a hypoallergenic Goldendoodle (75% poodle, 25% Golden Retriever), is a diabetes service dog trained to monitor Mason’s blood sugar levels and warn him when he is in trouble. Mason has Type 1 diabetes and Buddy was trained with samples of Mason's saliva to detect with his keen sense of smell when Mason's levels are too high or too low.
"Buddy will accompany Mason everywhere he goes for the rest of Buddy's life," said trainer Ed Peebles of Diabetic Alert Dogs of America, who handed the dog over to Mason just before the assembly in the gym. Federal law permits service dogs to stay with their owners, even on airliners.
Peebles spoke to the assembly to explain why Buddy will be with Mason on campus and to advise them that, while gentle in nature, he is not a petting dog.
"It (the dog) will help a lot because I was running high every day," said Mason.
He said the dog will alert him to trouble by pawing him, barking or biting at his hands.
Buddy, who is not covered by insurance and is costing the Mayeda family $15,000, is expected to live 15 years, according to Peebles.
HawaiiNewsNow's Jim Mendoza covered the story: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35...