Not Sure How To Help?
If you would like to help me to get a Diabetic Alert Dog, but funds are tight, the BEST HELP anyone can give is to let others know!  Get the word out.  Everyone has their own network of friends/co-workers/people they see when out shopping, etc..  Your voice is GREATLY appreciated!

Not sure what to say?  Let people know about different types of service dogs.  Educate others about Diabetic Alert Dogs.  Let them know that these dogs are trained to "sniff out" their handler's high and low blood sugar levels and by "pawing" them, the dogs give their handlers a heads up that their blood sugar levels are dropping or are on the rise, encouraging the diabetic handler to test their blood sugar and take appropriate action so their levels do NOT go too high or too low!

What is "normal range" for blood sugar levels?  This is very personalized.  The average goal range is between 80 and 150.  That number goes up a little bit the longer you've had diabetes.  I'm extremely happy when I'm between 70 and 140.

What happens if you go too low?  Everyone needs sugar in their blood to function.  When blood sugar levels get too low, common cues are sweating, shaky hands, taking longer to respond, slowing of the mind.  A person can treat low blood sugars by drinking juice or regular (not diet) soda or by eating a glucose tablet, candy, sandwich, etc.  Diabetics generally want a fast acting item like juice, along with a carbohydrate to keep the blood sugar levels from falling again.  IF LOW BLOOD SUGARS ARE NOT TREATED, the diabetic person can have seizures and/or go into diabetic coma.  The lowest blood sugar level that has been recorded for me was 17 - woke up to half a dozen firefighters and EMTs in our bedroom.

What happens if you go too high?  This is when there isn't enough insulin in your system and major damage to your circulation and kidneys can happen.  Most damage happens if the diabetic's blood sugar levels go up and down a lot!  But a high blood sugar level makes a person feel very groggy and slow.  My blood sugar levels go up when I'm sick or when I'm stressed.  Finals week in college gave me blood sugar levels of 800 (yes, I was hospitalized for about a week while they put gallons of insulin into me - not quite gallons, just seemed like it).

So being a diabetic is like living your life on a tight rope, trying to stay perfectly balanced between low and high blood sugar levels.

Musketeer Puppy would help keep me on that tight rope, not by lecturing me like humans tend to do, but with gentle puppy nudges and kind eyes.  He will have a big job to do, but one that my family and I (and my doctors) will greatly appreciate. 

How to donate for the Diabetic Alert Dog:
   1.  Pay Pal to wisconsin_marie@yahoo.com
   2.  Go to any Wells Fargo Bank (starting on Monday, July 20, 2015) and ask to make a deposit into the Musketeer the Diabetic Alert Dog fund.
   3.  TELL OTHERS is one of the biggest ways to help right now.

 

Thank you

for listening

and

for helping to get

Musketeer the Diabetic Alert Dog!

 



Donations NOW Accepted!
Thanks to the kind people at Wells Fargo, an account has been started!

Pay Pal to wisconsin_marie@yahoo.com

~OR~

Starting Monday, July 20, 2015
Go to ANY Wells Fargo Bank and give a cash donation to:
Musketeer the Diabetic Alert Dog

Puppy Has Been NAMED!
After pondering day and night for almost two weeks, we have come up with a name for the puppy!  His official name is:  Musketeer Puppy
His nicknames include:  Musket, Puppy, Musky and MP

 

THANK YOU

FOR YOUR HELP!

 

Entry 4
I did more research for the puppy today by calling a local vet to see what vaccines are needed and how often I'll need to take the puppy to the vet for check ups, etc.  I was told a puppy should see the vet once a year (more often if needed).  I was told they have Service Dogs as part of their clients.  I was told I should ask the D.A.D. people if they do a Lyme vaccine and a Kennel Cough vaccine.  I also learned there is a dog park here in town!  Then I gathered my courage and asked if it would be okay if I put a donation can at their office.  The person I spoke with didn't know the answer, and I'm currently waiting to hear back from someone who could tell me the answer to that question. 

Email was sent to the D.A.D. people, asking them about vaccines and asking if they had pamphlets that I could hand out to help promote fund raisers to folks have more information.  She called to reply and told me the puppy will be fully vaccinated, even for fleas and ticks (there are no fleas or ticks in Vegas, but because there are here, the puppy will get vaccinated for them).  She also told me she'd put pamphlets in the mail to me today.

I asked how the puppy would get here, cuz it would be a VERY LONG drive, and if he flew, would we need to pick them up from the airport.  The puppy will be flying here and renting a car and the trainer will be staying at a hotel here when it's time for me to hook up with the puppy.

(This is not my puppy - but will look similar to him)

NAME THE PUPPY!

Dog breed:  English Labrador Retriever

(English Labs have a huskier build than American Labs and are more mellow)

Dog color:  Golden/Yellow

Dog gender:  Male

Information:  I call ALL dogs "puppy", so it was suggested

"Puppy" be included in my puppy's name.

I lean towards names that have something to do with

Diabetes, Scotland and/or Medieval themes

 

Put your puppy name suggestion

in the comments below!

 

THANK YOU!

 



Entry 3
I decided to stop calling titles "Day - number" cuz there are just going to be some days that I have nothing to say (IS THAT POSSIBLE???).  So, welcome to Entry 3!

I spoke with the Diabetic Alert Service Dog people today!  I had the phone interview and asked a zillion questions.  She was impressed with how much research and how well I read their information.  I learned a LOT and I know I'll be learning a lot more during the entire process.  Here is a run down of what I learned today:

• $2,500 needs to be paid to start the process.  This will cover the cost of getting the breed, color and gender of dog *I* want, that is already trained for the basics (not to chew my favorite shoes, not to potty on the carpet, etc.).  They get dogs that are anywhere from 6 months of age to 1 year, so the dog has the maturity to start learning service and diabetic alert jobs.
• I get to name the dog!  This came as a total surprise and I'm so excited!  If you want to give puppy name suggestions, put it in the comments below!  We'll be considering names choices until we hear the right dog has been found.
• From the time the $2,500 is paid, it will take anywhere from five months to seven and a half months to receive the dog.  It can take anywhere from one day to two weeks to locate the right dog, then another five to seven months to get it fully trained, depending on the dog.
• The dog will obey sit/lay/stay while I'm busy, but no matter what task I'm doing, if my blood sugar is starting to go high or starting to get too low, it will alert me and continue to alert me until I do something about my blood sugar level.  If I don't pay attention or not able to react, the dog will go to the nearest person and alert them there is a medical need.
• It takes about 30 days for a puppy (dog) to get used to a new home, time change, climate, handlers.  It's a transition time for everyone, INCLUDING the dog.
• Salt used to melt snow and ice hurts a puppy's feets.  Dog boots are suggested, esp. walking across Wal-Mart parking lots (or any business in this state).

If you see a service animal, ask the handler questions!  If they are focused on working, you might not be able to pet the dog, but who knows, you might get to meet an amazing animal!

Service animals are allowed in ANY public location (yes, including restaurants and grocery stores) with their handler.  According to the A.D.A. (Americans with Disabilities Act), business owners are allowed to ask two questions of the handler of a service animal:  1.  Is that a service animal? and 2.  What task does that animal do for you?  In my case, I'll be answering "Yes" and "Alerts me to medical needs".  They are not allowed to ask what type of disability do you have.  HOWEVER, if the service animal is peeing on the floor or eating the business's merchandise, it can be told to leave.  YouTube 'Service Dog Not Allowed' sometime.  It is amazing how many (including police officers) don't know this Federal law!

Service animals are not just seeing eye dogs anymore!  We have participated in events to fund Dogs for the Deaf.  Military personal might have service dogs to assist with their P.T.S.D..  If you have the time, please check out this amazing VIDEO.  To see what a D.A.D. (Diabetic Alert Dog) can do for me, watch HERE.  ("Pawing" is the dog alerting the handler that their blood sugar levels need attention.).

If you have questions, comments or name ideas for my Service puppy (dog), please put them below in the comments! 

THANKS!



Day 2
My brilliant husband thought it would be respectful of others if we could get a secure link so people could donate safely, and so we could have a special Service Dog Account.  So I went to the bank today to talk and ask questions.

I was totally blessed to have a certain lady sitting at the desk today!  I told her that I needed to babble and I needed to ask questions and she was the lucky one to hear it.  :)  I told her a bit about my diabetic life, told her about the Diabetic Alert Dogs and I told her I wished I was a little girl in pigtails, asking for help to get a puppy.  Instead, I'm an adult, wanting to have a Service Dog.  I looked up and the woman was in tears.  I thought, "WHAT HAVE I DONE?" and started mentally cussing myself out.  Then she told me she lost her mom to diabetic complications, that her uncle had lost both of his legs, was on dialysis, had a kidney transplant and had died.  She went on to say that she was a Type 2 diabetic.  She has lived the worst of my diabetic nightmares.  She told me she wasn't sure about the secure deposits, but SHE was going to do the work to find out and get things going.  She told me that when her next pay check comes in, she wants to donate, saying I need that dog and I need to get it.  (I'm quite certain her mom and uncle would have had far fewer problems and would have lived a longer fuller life if they had Diabetic Alert Dogs).  She told me I will be surprised that even a woman like me, wanting a Service Dog, will have a chance.

So, I've been given more confidence that this dream of a healthier life will happen, that I'll be here for my family, that diabetes won't bring me down.

I'm just waiting for the phone interview with the Diabetic Alert Dogs company.  Perhaps tomorrow!

 

In hope for

Marie's Dog!

 



Day 1
For those in the virtual worlds who know me, but don't KNOW me, yeah, I'm a Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetic.  I have been for almost my entire life (will be 31 years of being diagnosed this August).  That means I've taken approximately 50,000 shots so far.  

What is a diabetic?  Click  HERE  to find out! 

Because I've been a diabetic for what seems like FOREVER, I'm having a more difficult time feeling when my blood sugar (bs) levels are going too high or too low.  I also have had one too many serious concussions which makes remembering to test my blood sugar levels more of a challenge.  At this point in my life I have NO negative conditions due to diabetes (blindness, kidney failure, loss of feet/legs due to poor circulation).  I have been VERY FORTUNATE!

WHAT CAN HELP ME NOW?
I've been struggling with blood sugar levels for years and a D.A.D. (Diabetic Alert Dog) was suggested to me recently!  These amazing dogs can detect when their partner (owner) has a low or a high bs level and let them, or a family member, know, basically nudging them to test and/or treat the levels!  BUT that's not all!  Dogs are trained to fetch the blood testing meter, sugar tablets or the phone to call 911!  Every moment of my day would be improved with a Diabetic Alert Dog!

These are official service dogs, ready and willing to work to keep the diabetic safe and more healthy.  This doesn't come cheap and unfortunately, insurance doesn't give a dime towards this service which could possibly keep me off of dialysis, keep me from going blind or keep me from loosing my legs.

What's the cost?
$15,000

FUND RAISER TIME!
I'll be working on getting fund raising events set up.  Kiva is wanting to DJ in both Second Life and InWorldz at an event in your location to assist with funds.  MORE info to come!

 

Thank you for your help

to get

Marie's Dog!