Mercedes

You may have seen Mercedes following Linn Benton student Michael Carey around campus.  She is is his constant companion.  Mercedes is about two feet tall with chocolate brown hair and weighs about fifty pounds.  Mercedes is Michael's Chocolate Lab therapy dog. 

Michael has seizures and Mercedes is there to comfort and help him through those seizures.  According to Michael, Mercedes is always close and will let him know when he is about to have a seizure.  She snuggles up close to him during a seizure to help comfort him.

Some therapy animals, like seeing eye dogs, need to be left alone so that they can keep their attention focused on their job.  Mercedes is a little different in that, with Michael's permission, you can say hi and pet her.  She is very friendly and loves the attention.  When I saw the two in the student union, Michael was trying to get her to play with her favorite toy, a stuffed bone.  She was having nothing to do with it and kept looking at me.  I asked Michael if I could pet her and she was happy for the attention.

Mercedes is Michael's second dog.  The first dog he had became ill and had to be retired.

According to epilepsy.com, not all dogs actually alert their person before a seizure starts.  They are there to comfort the person once the seizure has begun and directly after the seizure ends.

Not only is Mercedes an early warning system but she helps to lessen the severity of the seizures that Michael has through her attention and comfort.

Getting a therapy dog is not an easy nor inexpensive process.  A large commitment is expected of the person getting the dog.  The person must have the financial means to support the dog and the ability to take care of the dog.  Food, veterinary bills, and daily upkeep are all required of the owner.

Mercedes is an important tool for Michael to have at his disposal.  While she is there to alert and comfort Michael in the event of a seizure, she is his constant companion and provides immeasurable companionship and love with only the expectation of love in return.  Dogs are a gift to man.

At a Glance:
10% of dogs can predict a seizure

Time to train: 6 months to two years

Cost: $10,000 to $25,000

More information:

Epilepsy.com

Linn-Benton Therapy Animal Policy

Therapy Dogs