Local Heroes
- Ron Pace
- Henrietta Cottingham
- Cari Witruk
- Chloe Bacik and Leighton Ebert
- Alexa Skilling
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Ron Pace: Tacoma Trainer Teaches Dogs to Sniff Out Diabetes Dangers
A few weeks after Gig Harbor teen Liam Kelly was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in January 2008, his mother Lisa Kelly attended a conference and met a woman with a diabetic alert dog. She believed such a dog could help give her son a more healthy, normal life while keeping tighter glucose control around the clock.
“Liam is an extremely heavy sleeper—and the threat of nighttime lows is very real and very deadly,” she says. “And the psychological impact of dealing with diabetes, especially for a teenager, can be isolating. I felt that the bond and confidence a diabetic alert dog could provide would be beneficial.”
Through a family connection, she met Ron Pace, who owns Canyon Crest K-9 Training Center in Tacoma. Pace, who has trained police and drug-sniffing dogs for 30 years, had never worked with a diabetic service dog, but was game to try. “I’ve done almost every type of training,” he says, “but this was a new challenge after all these years.”
Pace found Max, a black lab, on Craigslist last February and felt he’d be a good match for Liam. Pace and his son Jarod donated their time to train the dog as a favor to the Kellys’, assuming Max would be their first and last diabetic service dog. But they quickly saw the great need and potential for training type 1 diabetic alert dogs, and recently started a new branch of their business called Dogabetics (dogabetics.com).
The Nose Knows
How does one teach an animal to detect the life-threatening differences in glucose levels? Dogs have very sensitive noses, some breeds more than others. “You can teach a dog to smell the difference between Pepsi and Coke,” says Pace. “When you’re teaching a dog to use its nose, it just depends on what you want it to find.”
During the first meeting between client and canine, Liam wore clothing he had on while experiencing different glucose levels. “These dogs know there’s something different about the person as soon as they meet,” says Pace. “The bonding process is really incredible from day one.” Pace continued to expose Max to different glucose levels, teaching him to detect specific scents on Liam’s breath – sweet and fruity during a high, or metallic and acidic during a low.
Using a system of actions and rewards, the Paces trained Max to alert Liam when his blood-sugar levels were above 180 milligrams or below 80 milligrams. In less than 30 days, the dog was alerting Liam. When he catches a scent, Max demands Liam’s attention by licking him, laying on him, or jumping up to make sure his owner knows there may be a problem. Max will even find and fetch Liam’s glucose meter with a specific command.
Liam appreciates the special bond he has with Max. “He's always happy to be with me, even if I made him work all night long with low blood sugars. He really is my best friend.”
Top Dogs
Pace works with the client first, then finds a dog to match the person’s needs and lifestyle. He favors golden retrievers and labs 6-18 months old, who are good with people, adaptable to new situations, sure-footed in public areas (streets, airplanes, buses, schools, restaurants), and have a very keen sense of smell.
Pace sends the dog home with his new owner on the very first day. He estimates that the initial training period is 100 hours or more, with follow-up sessions on obedience, scent work, and public access issues.. “I believe in 30 days we can have the team moving along pretty well on their own.” It’s not a foolproof system. “There are times when the dogs don’t alert,” says Pace, “but not very often.”
Since Max came to live with the Kellys’ in March, the dog has alerted Liam several times during school and football practice when the boy didn’t think anything was wrong. For his life-saving work, Max is rewarded with praise, stuffed toys, or treats like string cheese. And, of course, the devotion of the entire Kelly family.
A Sense of Freedom and Control
“Max has literally saved Liam’s life and allowed him to feel he can participate in sports or anything he wants because Max will alert him and give him the extra security if his blood sugars are out of range,” says Lisa Kelly, who’s now a JDRF Northwest board member. She’s been very pleased to see a decline in Liam’s A1c level since they got the dog, and credits Max for improving her son’s health. It’s also helped the family feel proactive in the face of this devastating disease.
“Often it seems like diabetes is happening to the individual, and there’s a feeling of loss of control. When the dog training began, we felt that we’re doing something positive to take back our lives and some of the uncertainty and hyper-vigilance that good diabetes management requires,” she says. “It’s also given Liam a partner, a great four-legged CGM, and a chance to help others by educating and modeling the choice to use a diabetic alert dog.”
The Right Human for the Dog
Having a diabetic service dog is a serious commitment and not right for everyone. Pace says that people should know that having this specially-trained dog is another resource, not a replacement for good diabetes management. He says the best candidates are people (usually age 9 and up) who are very serious about diabetes care and won’t tire of having a dog around 24 hours a day.
“Be ready to give up a lot of your free time to work and bond with your dog,” adds Liam Kelly. “I have to take care of my dog because he takes care of me—feeding and cleaning up after him, taking him out, going to the vet. There are times I'd rather be lazy, hanging out with my friends and not being so responsible, but you can't be lazy with diabetes. Having Max has given me more confidence that he will keep me safe, but I still need to check, watch my diet, exercise, and go to the doctor. He's an amazing tool, but I have to do my part too.”
Demand Grows as Word Spreads
Training to be alert to diabetic emergencies is a new area for service dogs and trainers. Pace and Kelly believe there are only and a handful of trainers and about 100 such dogs in the country today. Pace has heard from people around the country who are interested in a diabetic alert dog. He’s working with new clients and dogs, as his waiting list grows. “People are coming out of the woodwork,” he laughs.
For those interested in exploring this option, Lisa Kelly advises, “Carefully consider that having a diabetic alert dog is a lifestyle choice and a long-term commitment, as dogs usually live at least 10 years. Do your research -- check out different dog trainers and ask for references. Find out how supportive others in your family, school, and work will be of this choice. You have legal rights to use a service dog, but having a supportive environment has been important for us.”
One major hurdle for many people is financing. The cost to find and train a dog through Pace’s business is $15,000, while other organizations charge up to $25,000. Pace and Kelly are trying to set up a non-profit to provide scholarships to defray the cost of diabetic service dogs. Donations of money and dogs who may be good diabetic service dogs are always welcome.
Learn More
Visit www.dogabetics.com, or contact Ron Pace at 253-926-9200 or ronpace@canyoncrestk9.com.
HENRIETTA COTTINGHAM
I am not an athlete, I am not a cook, and I am not a parent. But I am a committed volunteer for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
I am not an athlete, but for the last six years I have been on UW’s Husky Field setting up the finish line for one of the largest fun runs in the United States: JDRF's Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes. At 5:30 a.m. on race day, I am hoisting orange pylons out the back of a truck, helping to mark the path that nationally-ranked runners, parents pushing strollers, and teens wearing iPods follow to try and make it across University Bridge before it goes up.
I am not a cook, but the official start to my holiday season begins with volunteering for JDRF Northwest’s Gingerbread Village at the Seattle Sheraton. Hundreds of pounds of gingerbread, gravity-defying cantilevered confections, and candy of all shapes and colors are put together by Seattle's best architects and builders. Completed structures are put on display in the lobby of the Sheraton for all to enjoy. It's free (with donation boxes available, of course) and a delightful way to spend a little time after shopping, before a movie, or to be a tourist in your own hometown. It's really incredible.
I am not a parent, but type 1 doesn't just affect children—it affects the parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, teammates, neighbors, and anyone else that cares for someone who is diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that strikes children as young as six-months old, and is with them for the rest of their lives.
It is a condition that can be controlled but is not curable—yet. People do not die of diabetes; people die of diabetic complications like kidney failure, amputations, vision loss and nerve damage. These are the very real concerns that diabetics, and the people that love them, have to think about every day.
So for all the things that I am not, volunteering helps reveal to me what I am.
I have the energy to show up, the creativity to look and see how I can help, and the optimism to believe that my contributions make a difference. JDRF is an international organization, and I find great comfort knowing that my efforts are matched by thousands of other people all around the world who want to find a cure as much as I do.
~ Henrietta Cottingham
Seattle resident Henrietta Cottingham is an employee at the University of Washington and has been volunteering with JDRF Northwest for nearly seven years. Her sister Mary Kay passed away in 2006 from complications due to type 1 diabetes, and her mother Kitty serves on the board of the JDRF Gulf Coast Chapter in Houston, Texas. We are honored to count her among our friends and supporters.
CARI WITRUK: South Sound Teen Keeps Diabetes on the Run
Just months after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 17-year-old Cari Witruk of Covington, WA merged an important school project with her personal mission to fight diabetes. The enterprising Kentwood High School student and her classmate turned a DECA club project into “Distance for Diabetes,” a 5k fun run they coordinated to raise awareness and funds for JDRF Northwest.
The January road race, which attracted almost 100 runners, brought in more than $4,000 in donations for research. And, after sailing through the state DECA competition in March, Cari will present her very successful project at the national competition in Atlanta in April!
CHLOE BACIK AND LEIGHTON EBERT: Two Siblings–Nearly 20 Years Apart—Unite to Fight Diabetes
Eleven-year-old Chloe Bacik and her big brother Leighton, not only share the struggle of living with type 1 diabetes—they were both diagnosed just one day apart in October 2001. Since then, they’ve come to grips with the daily ups and downs of this chronic, devastating disease, but this optimistic pair will not let diabetes slow them down. This year, Chloe and Leighton have joined forces as the 2008 Ambassadors for the Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes. Read more about these remarkable siblings.
ALEXA SKILLING: Rowing Ahead with Type One Diabetes
Story by Claire Hannes
Living by the numbers is an endless struggle, but Alexa Skilling perseveres with type 1 diabetes. Alexa Skilling began self-injecting insulin at age nine. “I was at Camp
Orkila,” she explains. “The nurse said, ‘You’re going to give yourself a shot today.’ When I got home I just kept doing it myself.”
Now 21, Alexa is bright-eyed and vibrant. She speaks with eloquence and exhibits a strong sense of self and independence. You would never guess that she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age six, but this disease manipulates her life on a daily basis.
“Diabetes is your life. It affects everything and everything affects it,” Alexa explains. But her disease hasn’t stopped her. Alexa has rowed for Western Washington University’s crew team for the past three years, an ongoing commitment that requires getting up at 4:30 am to be on the water by 5:30am five days a week.
The Ultimate Team Sport
“I set three alarms,” she says with a grin, and her devotion isn’t surprising. Devotion. Responsibility. These are necessary qualities to live with diabetes, a disease that requires strong self-awareness and personal initiative. When asked why she loves crew, Alexa lights up.
“It’s the ultimate team sport,” she says. “It’s amazing being committed to something that can be so unpleasant, but turns so rewarding. Crew has taught me to push myself physically.” Alexa’s passion and zest for a sport so physically demanding exhibits a life without limits. Diabetes is just another challenge. “The first time we ever won nationals at Western was my freshman year, and this past year was the 3rd year in a row.” She says with a smile. “No other team in any division has ever won three times in a row. Three times, sure, but not a three-peat. We're kinda proud of that.”
Overcoming Obstacles
Diabetes poses extra challenges on the water. “There’s an ideal blood sugar to row at, so I don’t always perform as well when I’m high,” Alexa explains. “I check my blood sugar about ten times a day, usually two or three times before practice.” Alexa is always prepared, even in her boat. She never fails to bring her bag with juice and insulin. “You can’t just forget to take your insulin, as you can with some other medications,” she says.
Alexa trains year-round for the crew season and looks forward to spending time with her teammates. “Everyone has to be in the boat. We can’t row without every person,” she says. Despite the extra challenge of diabetes, Alexa’s teammates can rely on her- she knows her disease well.
Lack of Type 1 Awareness
“I’ve never felt the need to explain to my coach, because I know how to take care of myself,” she says. “I’ll just say, ‘Coach, I’m low, I need my juice.’ He won’t push me until I’m ready.” Although Alexa’s coach is aware of her disease, many people do not know about, or do not fully understand, type one diabetes.
“People don’t always understand diabetes unless it personally affects their lives,” Alexa explains. “It’s been in the media more, but when I tell people that I have diabetes, they assume that I have type 2. They think, ‘She eats too much sugar, she doesn’t work out,’ but that’s not true. They assume that I can just get rid of this.”
Controlling the Numbers
Numbers—which reflect blood sugar readings and short-term trends—are the key to survival when you live with diabetes. Although Alexa is exceptionally active and health-conscious compared to the average American, fluctuating blood sugar levels still pose a threat to her long-term health.
“The scariest thing about this disease is what might happen in the future if I don’t take care of myself now,” Alexa explains. “Complications may arise, and your doctor can’t tell you if they will happen and when they will happen.” Blindness, kidney failure, amputations due to irregular blood circulation, and heart disease are all possible long-term consequences of type one diabetes. “I don’t know if these are ‘could-be’s’ or ‘for-sure’s’ for me,” she says. The future remains unsure but hopeful.
Looking Ahead
“I haven’t really defined what a cure would be to me,” Alexa “Fifty or sixty years ago, you’d die from diabetes. Today just staying alive, that could be viewed as a cure in itself.”
In the quest for a cure for type 1 diabetes, JDRF Northwest raised $8 million for research in fiscal year 2007. Some of those funds support clinical trials of revolutionary technology such as the artificial pancreas. This promising device would automatically adjust a person’s blood sugar to a healthy level, preventing the constant ups and downs that lead to internal stress and long-term complications.
And – it would lighten the load for those who must keep food and supplies within reach at all times. “It would be so amazing to not have to carry around my huge bag all the time,” Alexa says.
As technology and clinical trials move forward, she reflects on current methods to advance diabetes research. “I think stem cell research is the answer to every disease and health issue we face. It’s right there. We know what to do with it—now we just have to use it.”
Alexa’s unbreakable zeal and strength have allowed her to thrive with type 1 diabetes. While waiting for a cure she remains an inspiration to those in her situation- by taking charge of her disease.
Nominate a "Local Hero"
There are many individuals and organizations working to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. We'd like to honor some of those local heroes for their outstanding contribution to diabetes treatment, education, or research.
If you'd like to nominate a person, group, or organization, please e-mail us at jdrfnorthwest@jdrf.org. And check back regularly to read new profiles. Thank you for helping us celebrate our heroes!