Heaven Scent Paws

Dogs have been much more than man’s best friend for centuries serving individuals with a variety of disabilities and saving many lives. In the last few years, organizations such as Heaven Scent Paws have been training special dogs to alert their diabetic owners when their blood sugar is dangerously low or high. Dogs’ acute sense of smell allows them to pick up on the chemical imbalances that define Type 1 Diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes. Families who have had their lives overturned by a diagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes now have help in the form of a smart, furry companion with a miraculous sense of smell.

Heaven Scent Paws was founded by Michele Reinkemeyer,
who came up with the idea of training dogs to alert diabetics after her son had a near fatal seizure stemming from low blood sugar. Michele and all of the staff at Heaven Scent Paws are either diabetic themselves, or have a diabetic in the family enabling them to be more knowledgeable and compassionate toward the families they serve. The dogs go through twelve months of training and then meet their new owners at a three week training course that prepares the families to properly care for, handle and reinforce the special skills of their service dog.

At a recent Cherokee Pickens Juvenile Diabetes support
meeting, families met Cleo, a service dog that helps 11-year old Carlie Roberson manage her diabetes and avoid life threatening hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) episodes. “When my blood sugar drops Cleo can smell it. She’ll put her paws on my lap and start licking my face until I check my levels,” explains Carlie, “Sometimes the test will tell me I’m fine, but 20 minutes later I’ll be 53, so she can tell when it’s dropping. When I play baseball in the outfield, Cleo sits with my Mom in the bleachers and she’ll start barking when I’m getting low.” In a wonderful display of ability, even though there were eight other diabetics present at the meeting, Cleo alerted only when her partner, Carlie, had blood sugar levels that were too low. The Campbells, whose four-year-old son Mathew is waiting to receive his dog next month, were thrilled to see firsthand the successful bond between Carlie and her dog.

Since inception, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
(JDRF) has provided more than $1 billion to diabetes research worldwide. More than 80 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and education about research. JDRF’s mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. In addition to the Cherokee Pickens group, the Georgia Chapter has family support groups located throughout metro Atlanta and beyond that meet specific needs such as a support groups for toddlers, and for adults with Type 1 diabetes.

To find a support group in your area call the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at 404-420-5990 or visit www.jdrfgeorgia.org. For information about service dogs for children with Juvenile Diabetes visit www.heavenscentpaws.com or call Michele Reinkemeyer at 573-493-2627.