Service Dog Changes Owner's Fortune by Telling of Oncoming Seizures

In 1987, at the age of 26, Donna Jacobs had a stroke.

From that moment on, she lived in fear of the frequent seizures and excruciating migraines that struck her without warning. Lack of information and treatment for her disability left Donna depressed and withdrawn. As the years went by, her coordination deteriorated and she was unable to walk. She lost her job in data processing because her condition caused her to "space out" during seizures and she could not think logically or recall previous conversations. She began a greeting cards business from her home, but was forced to give that up as well after she had a serious collapse that impaired her vision and made her thinking more abstract. Medications did not help and she withdrew even more. In an attempt to provide stimulation (as well as a reason to get out of bed), Donna adopted a mixed breed puppy named Patra at 7 weeks of age. He was a sickly puppy and both Donna and her husband John had to nurse him back to health. As Patra recovered, he began to display boisterous behavior toward Donna, sometimes pushing her down and bouncing on her.

On a recommendation from a local vet, they took Patra to Kathy Cramer, a canine behavior specialist, to find out what was causing the dog's misbehavior. Watching Patra at home, Cramer noticed that the dog never directed his agitation toward Donna's husband. On one particular visit to their home, Cramer asked Jacobs if she had any neurological problems. When Donna admitted to her condition, Cramer's immediate response was, "Your dog is telling you something is wrong."

The diagnosis – Patra is one of those amazing dogs that has the gift to sense Donna Jacobs' seizures and warn her 5 to 10 minutes before they happen. During the seizures, Patra places his head in Donna's lap or on her shoulder and keeps it there until the seizure passes, usually within 5 to 15 minutes. Patra has also alerted Donna to low blood sugars and panic attacks, and most recently to the fact that she had an infection of the pulmonary heart valve. In September of 1997, Patra received certification from the Assistance Dogs for Living as a seizure alert service dog. Patra has turned the life of a recluse into a hard-working, social person who has a new "leash" on life and her disabilities. Most recently, Donna was hired as a marketing director for a computer company.

Originally published in Interactions 16:4, 1998, Delta Society. Edited for the web and updates.