Medical service dog keeps woman alert

Ganeva is a lovely black German Shepherd who works like a dog to care for her owner, Michelle Lech of Bonners Ferry.

At 4-years-old, Ganeva is hard at work as a medical service dog. 

So if Lech keeps Ganeva from visiting with folks around town it is for a good reason.

Ganeva wears an identification badge and vest clearly stating her job, “ “Medical alert dog, do not touch.” 

Lech, 27, suffers from respiratory and anxiety attacks. Before Ganeva came along, Lech who is not allergic to animals, did not know when these attacks would occur . 

She adopted Ganeva from a rescue program in Sandpoint four years ago.

  After bringing Ganeva home, Lech noticed Ganeva would for no particular reason start to pat her on the knee with both her paws and lick her face over and over. 

Lech was not sure what to make of it just ignored it. But she soon realized that Ganeva was warning her that she was about to have an asthma attack.

“It took about five different times of her pawing my knee for me to understand that she was warning me,” Lech said.  “I would have a respiratory attack just minutes after she did that each time.”

Lech decided to get on the Internet to find out if anyone else had had the  same experience.

  She found that some dogs have the ability to determine and alert an owner of oncoming medical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, panic attack, anxiety attack or asthma attacks.

It is not known how exactly how the dogs detect these attacks but some experts say that a change is blood flow, heart rhythm, or scents may cause them to alert.

She began a training program with Ganeva;  it took about two years to get her fully trained as a medical alert service dog. Ganeva also had to take and pass two tests: One that tests the dog’s manners in public , and the other, a canine good citizen test. 

Lech herself had to fit the definition given by the Americans with Disabilities Act to qualify for the use of service dogs.

Ganeva’s primary goal is to focus on Lech.  The dog is well behaved and trained.  She can go into every public place Lech goes to protect her from outside influences that may trigger a medical issue.

Because of Lech’s anxiety in large crowds Ganeva looks around and behind Lech and blocks people from getting to close to her.  Lech’s anxiety around people can also trigger a medical emergency.

 Ganeva is trained to alert Lech if she is going to have asthma attack.  When Lech gets this alert from Ganeva she knows to get her medication handy. 

The dog also alerts Lech to take her medications on time every day.

“There is an alarm that goes off at home and that alerts Ganeva to tell me to take my meds each day, and she will not leave me alone until I take them,” Lech said.

Lech pointed out that a lot of people don’t know she is disabled because her disability is invisible.

When children want to play and pet Ganeva Lech has to let them know not to so that Ganeva can keep focused on her task at hand, keeping Lech safe from a medical disturbance.

“I have a hard time telling people she is working and not to talk to her,” Lech said.  “She is an adaptive device like a cane is to someone who needs help walking or a wheelchair to someone who can’t walk.”

Ganeva does get play time. 

She swims, plays with other dogs at home and even  lounges on the couch.  Lech brushes Ganeva every day and she is bathed every two weeks.

Lech welcomes questions about Ganeva and asks people to go ahead and ask her. She would like to cooperate with community members and educate them about Ganeva so they know not to distract the dog in any way so she can do her job keeping Lech informed and safe. 

For information about service dogs or how to qualify for the use of them go to www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm  or  http://blog.govdelivery.com/usodep/2011/05/redefining-the-rules-governing-service-animals-covered-by-the-ada.html.