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Heads Up Hounds pairs rescue dogs with diabetics

Posted at 5:29 PM, Dec 16, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-16 18:29:14-05

Sunny, a copper haired mutt, has the dog has had quite the journey. Earlier this year, he was rescued from the Town & Country shelter just south of Omaha.

For the past three months, Sunny's gone through training as a diabetic alert dog in Louisville with Heads up Hounds. He's learned how to alert to blood sugar changes in type 1 diabetics.

"We get scent samples saliva samples from the individuals and we train them to alert to rises or drops, or what happens too quickly," explained Joe Cook with Heads up Hounds.

When it's matched, the dog spends three days in Omaha to transfer to their new owner. For sunny, it's Audrey Wilson. She has had quite the journey too. She traveled from California to meet this copper haired mutt. A diabetic alert dog was something she started looking into after having a scare a few years ago.

"I went into seizure after going to sleep and I had a death experience. The paramedics were called and they were able to safe my life, but you know you need some help at night," she said.

Sunny was matched specifically to Audrey. His soft coat, ideal for Audrey's hands. She has nerve damage in past from seizures. He's trained to her scent, and ready to serve.

You could say this is a pair of person and pup who have rescued each other.

"I think it's going to be mutually beneficial but I think he is going to help me much more than I can help him," Wilson said.