‘Lifting the cloud’ of diabetes with a special dog – Press Pubs

Since her diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in 1989, Madyi Stangl has felt that the disease has placed a cloud on her life limiting her ability to travel and live life.

But that cloud has lifted for the Minneapolis resident, thanks to a special golden retriever named Willy.

Willy is a diabetes assistance dog that was given to Stangl by Can Do Canines, a New Hope-based nonprofit that trains dogs to help people who live with diabetes, autism, seizures, hearing loss and mobility issues.

Madyi and Willy graduated in a class of 14 on June 10.

Willy was named by Wilma Audrey Loken, who donated money to Can Do Canines. She died before Willy graduated, but her two daughters, their husbands and her son attended the graduation ceremony. One daughter, Beth Brostrom, and her husband are members of the White Bear Lions Club.

Willy can detect changes in Stangls blood sugar levels by scent. He alerts Madyi to high or low blood sugar levels by touching her with his paw. If she doesnt respond, he will whine or whimper and eventually do whatever he needs to do to get her attention. He is trained to bring glucose tablets or even a cell phone to Stangl.

Recently, Stangl had a scary low of 36 during the night. When she failed to respond to Willys touches, he laid over her body until she woke up, checked her blood sugar levels and ate food to bring her levels back up to normal.

Can Do Canines has produced nearly 600 teams of dogs and their human companions since opening in 1989, according to Sarah Schaff, client services coordinator.

The organization can give away the dogs, which are sold by other organizations for $20,000 or more, because of volunteers and many donors, Schaff says.

Funding comes from donations from individuals, companies and grants. Schaff reports that the organization does not receive any state or federal funds, relying solely on donations, fundraisers and bequests.

Puppies are bred in a cooperative program with other certified service dog organizations and raised by volunteers. Many receive their initial training in six Minnesota and two Wisconsin prisons.

Schaff notes that the prison environment is good for the dogs as well as the inmates.

It gives dogs a 24/7 taste of what life will be like when they are working, she says, adding that there are many studies pointing to the therapeutic benefits for the inmate handlers as well.

The organization has a screening process to find suitable candidates to match with dogs that are in the system or are in training.

It takes two years to raise and train a dog to be an assistance animal, Schaff said.

Madyi works as the operations lead for the University of Minnesota Physicians and Willy accompanies her to work. He alerted a diabetic co-worker of Stangl to a low blood sugar level.

Stangl grew up with dogs and reports that having Willy around is like having a big security blanket that I carry with me all the time. She is now more confident as well.

Even though Im going to continue on as this girl with this physical reminder of my disability, Im a little prouder because Im able to shed light on diabetes. Diabetes is an invisible illness, something that needs to be seen because its not something to be taken lightly, she said.

Even though Willy is a beautiful and friendly dog, Stangl asks that people refrain from touching him or any other assistance dog without permission of the owner.

When we are out in public and Willy is wearing his vest, its important not to make eye contact or distract him, Stangl says. He is working for me, and if he gets distracted, he stops working, and that could be dangerous.

Schaff says that Can Do Canines is in need of volunteers to raise and train Labrador, collie and poodle puppies for two years and return them to the company for further training. For more information, go to http://www.can-do-canines.org.

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'Lifting the cloud' of diabetes with a special dog - Press Pubs