THEY say a dog is man’s best friend, and Dani Stevens’ service dog Baloo has saved her life on multiple occasions and was recently named runner-up in the Hardest Working category in the Channel 10 television series Dog Down Under.
“She was up against so many incredible dogs – police, military, border force, detection, and guide, hearing & assistance dogs. It was an honour for her to be recognised,” Ms Stevens said.
Turning nine years old, Baloo is a seizure alert assistance dog and Ms Stevens said that without her trusty canine she would not be alive.
“Without Baloo I would not be talking to you right now,” the Deebing Heights local said.
“I have required CPR a number of times after seizures – if Baloo didn’t alert myself and family by barking, they would not have been able come to assist and perform the lifesaving CPR.”
Baloo works 24/7 and will often alert in the middle of the night.
“She uses her super-sensitive nose to detect the chemical changes that occur in the body prior to an on-coming seizure,” Ms Stevens said.
“Once she smells this chemical change, she will bark to alert.
“I have refractory epilepsy and uncontrolled seizures. She has made a huge difference to not only my life but my family’s life too.
“She has pre-alerted to thousands of seizures, anaphylactic reactions and Todd’s Palsy seizures throughout her 7.5 years of service as an assistance dog.”
Baloo has been funded by the CrossFit and Ipswich community and trained through Dogs for Life.
She also spent the first two years of her life working as a therapy dog at a school to help with her training.
She provided the children with a calming presence and also helped to teach them the responsibility of looking after a dog.
Throughout the time Baloo has been with Ms Stevens, she has been more than just another assistance dog.
“Baloo has given me my life and independence back, provided unwavering support and companionship.
“She prevents so many injuries by alerting prior to a seizure, allowing me time to sit down in a safe place and call for help.”
Baloo has been a poster dog for medical alert dogs with appearances on television, radio, newspapers, and magazines where she has raised much-needed awareness.
Along with her recent runner-up success on television, Baloo has also won Puppytales Australian Dog of the Year.
She will shortly be transitioning into retirement and, if approved, will be retired to a foster family.
“I’m thinking she’ll need a service dog retirement ‘paw-ty’ when she retires,” Ms Stevens laughed.
“I hope she has done the Ipswich community and assistance dog community proud.”
