Service dog known to ‘tattle’ on girl

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Sam will tell on Joy in a heartbeat. It’s his job — and often it’s potentially life-saving.

Sam, a 3-year-old Labrador/spaniel, likes to romp with the kids, but when his vest and balance harness go on, he becomes 11-year-old Joy Cahill’s service dog and official lookout. No one is then allowed to touch him because Sam is busy, keeping alert and ready to warn someone should this Wilmington girl have a health emergency.

“He’s gotten to know her norm,” said Denise Cahill, Joy’s mother. “So when something is not normal, he reacts. He also doesn’t let Joy do anything she’s not supposed to be doing. We call him ‘our built-in little tattler.’ ”

Mischievous girl

Joy, born with Down syndrome, also suffers from respiratory distress and epilepsy. She has supplemental oxygen and a feeding tube. A seizure affected Joy’s ability to walk and she required physical therapy.

Currently, Joy only uses the oxygen at night and as needed during the day. She also sleeps with a machine that measures her heart rate and oxygen levels. However, Joy can be as mischievous as any child. A few months ago, to Denise’s chagrin, Joy learned how to switch off her machines when everyone was sleeping.

Joy, who’s not highly verbal and tends not to respond when someone calls her name, also discovered the fun of leaving the house when other family members are occupied, so special locks were installed. Concerned about Joy’s many health and safety issues, Denise began researching service dogs.

Soon, Denise found the perfect one: a rescue dog through Midwest Assistance Dogs Inc. The family learned it needed to conduct fundraisers to come up with the $6,000 needed to obtain the dog and have the required training. The family sold candy, a local campground organized a dance event and a local organization donated the remainder.

Sense for safety

After they had the money, Denise and Joy spent 10 days in Indiana where the trainer worked one-on-one with Sam and Joy. Sam senses when Joy is about to have a seizure, but also, mysteriously, when her oxygen levels are low. In addition to constantly monitoring her health, Sam does not put up with Joy’s shenanigans.

“The first week we were home, he came out of her room at 3 a.m. and nudged me,” Denise said. “She had shut off her machines.”

Sam goes wherever Joy goes. He’s been shopping, out to eat and to the mall. Sam even stood in line for Santa when Joy had her picture taken with him. To prepare Sam and the other Reed-Custer students for his presence at Joy’s school, Denise first talked to staff and spent Sam’s first day at school, just in case.

“We wanted the kids to know he’s a working dog,” Denise said, “but we did bring him for a ‘meet and greet’ so the kids could pet him and get familiar with him. Everything has gone well. We’ve had no negative feedback from the school.”

Sam stays by Joy’s side most of the time she’s in school, with two exceptions. Sam does not go into the gym or the cafeteria. “A cafeteria full of food is too much temptation for any dog,” Denise said. “Although he knows he’s not supposed to pick up scraps off the floor, there might be kids who would hand him a cookie. He’s also crated during gym because of all the balls and kids running around.”

Added benefits

Diane Kleckler, an administrator with the Southern Will County Cooperative for Special Education, is pleased with how well Sam has fit into the school’s routine. She had anticipated disruptions, but none has occurred.

“Sam lies by Joy’s desk while she works and the kids got used to him very quickly,” Kleckler said. “The teachers and administrators worked together to do what’s best for Joy and it has worked out well.”

Moreover, Sam has benefitted Joy in other unexpected ways. Having to give Sam commands has improved Joy’s verbal and social skills. Joy has also progressed in physical therapy and grown in her ability to assume responsibility, since she is responsible for Sam’s basic care. Joy brushes Sam once a day, feeds him twice a day and makes sure his water bowl is full.

During dinner and when Joy completes her homework, Sam patiently sits by Joy’s side. When she’s watching television, Sam lays his head in her lap. At other times, Joy takes him outside and tosses a ball for him to fetch.

“Sometimes, she does have to say goodbye to him,” Denise said. “He works so hard that I want him to have a break. But when she comes home, it’s like they haven’t seen each other for three days.”