Barking Fool

Dog's quick dialing fetches award - Orlando Sentinel : Orange County News Dog's quick dialing fetches award - Orlando Sentinel : Orange County News

Link: Dog's quick dialing fetches award - Orlando Sentinel : Orange County News Dog's quick dialing fetches award - Orlando Sentinel : Orange County News.

On the day Kevin Weaver almost died, he remembers walking inside his Ocoee home with his dog. Then, nothing.

He has no memory of the diabetic seizure that caused him to collapse and hit his head. Or when his dog, Belle, got the cell phone that is always on the coffee table and bit into the number 9 on the keypad. This automatically dialed 911.

The next thing Weaver recalls is waking up in the hospital. The dog was there, too.

"There is no doubt in my mind that I'd be dead if I didn't have Belle," said Weaver, 34, whose blood sugar had dropped dangerously low. Belle had been trained to summon help in just those circumstances.

NEADS helps Service Dogs!

PLANET DOG LENDS A PAW TO NEADS BY SPONSORING

sponsorship of Mazey, a service dog in training for NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Service). Along with Planet Dog employees, over one hundred and fifty customers submitted name suggestions for the puppy. The name Mazey came to mind for Wendy Cassetta, a Planet Dog employee, and Donna Anderson and Valerie Jean, Planet Dog customers, because of the gift of Amazing Grace which is what service dogs bring to the lives of those that depend on them. The name was also inspired by the month of May, which always brings hope, rebirth and promise.
Mazey will no doubt change the life of whomever she partners with," says Wendy Cassetta, a Planet Dog employee. "We are all looking forward to following her development into a guide and companion to a person in need," adds Cassetta.

The Planet Dog Foundation (PDF), Planet Dog's non-profit, recently awarded a $2,500 grant to NEADS, a portion of which will be used to sponsor Mazey's training. For 30 years (NEADS) has been helping children and adults who are deaf or physically disabled live more mobile, social and independent lives through partnership with a dog individually trained for their lifestyle and assistive needs.

t their Puppy Nursery and Early Learning Center in Central Massachusetts, puppies from age 8-16 weeks like Mazey live and learn obedience and basic training skills. They also embark on frequent field trips to enhance socialization skills and do therapy visits at a wide variety of facilities.
Our long-term goal is to create a self-sustaining puppy sponsorship program at Planet Dog funded entirely by our employees," says Kristen Smith, the Executive Director of PDF. "We hope to sponsor a puppy in training every year," adds Smith.

In addition to the grant, Planet Dog has donated collar and leash sets to be given to all graduates of the NEADS Puppy Early Education and Training Program. About 50 service dogs graduate each year. For more information about NEADS, please visit www.neads.org.

www.planetdog.com and www.planetdogfoundation.org.