PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
SURFACECREEKVETERINARYCENTER.COM | 970-856-4474
17800 HANSON RD. CEDAREDGE, CO 81413
inside this issue
1 2
The Everyday Choices That Make a Great Pet Owner
Mastering the Art of Cold-Weather Camping
Dr. Neil Welcomes a New Baby Boy!
3
Early Cancer Signs Every Pet Owner Should Know
New SCVC Policies
4
Meet the Canine Hero That Warns of Seizures
TRAINED TO PROTECT The Service Dog That Changed a Child’s Life NC aenwc eAl l aptpi ooni nPt mo leinc yt When you cancel with less than 24-hour notice, we now require a prepaid $50 deposit to reschedule. If you keep your rescheduled appointment, we will apply the deposit to your veterinary bill. If you miss your rescheduled appointment, the fee is nonrefundable.
The family of JJ, a preteen troubled by debilitating seizures, was struggling to manage the condition and reduce its devastating effect on his learning and well-being. They tried numerous treatments and therapies, but nothing worked well enough. Then, JJ’s community stepped up and changed his life forever. Military veterans at Sun Outdoors, a Sarasota, Florida, RV community where JJ and his family live, learned about his family’s dilemma, and took the initiative to help.
LaFlamme and his wife, Sandra, matched JJ with Ezra, a dog trained to detect oncoming seizures and provide emotional support. Ezra is a Czech shepherd, a Central European herding breed known for intelligence, alertness, intuitive ability, and loyalty.
Service dogs’ sense of smell is more powerful than any machine and can detect changes instantaneously. They have been likened to a live-in medical alert system. They can also be trained to notice anxiety or discomfort and offer comfort and companionship. With training by Julie Madison of Top Tier K9, a professional dog-training company, Ezra learned to
Enter Ezra, the service dog.
detect seizures. He was also taught to alert JJ and those around him before any visible signs of a seizure appeared, allowing a few crucial moments for JJ to take medications to curtail the seizures and ensure his safety. Ezra’s presence led to striking improvements. Not only did JJ experience a sharp decline in seizures, but the entire family felt less uncertainty and fearfulness. As the story of JJ and Ezra demonstrates, bonds between animals and humans can yield near-miraculous benefits.
The veterans reached out to Canines for Heroes, a nonprofit founded by Air Force veteran Mark LaFlamme. As a highly decorated veteran of three Middle East combat operations, LaFlamme knew firsthand the challenges
of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); two of his fellow officers succumbed to the pain and took their own lives. As a way of coping, LaFlamme set out to help others by giving them access to the healing power of trained service dogs.
4
970-856-4474
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator