Sometimes there’s just no explanation. How can a dog detect in advance a child is going to have a seizure - especially a dog that hasn’t been trained to do so?
There’s no doubt Heather Jones, 14, of Harker Heights and Della, a 4-year-old Rottweiler, have a special bond. Heather has been showing Della, owned by Mike and Robin Wheeler, at American Kennel Club events around the state for the past few months.
Though these two have a relationship, no one knew how close until Heather wound up in the hospital last week after suffering a series of seizures.
With permission from King’s Daughters Hospital staff, the Wheelers took Della to see Heather and it made all the difference, according to Andrea Jones, Heather’s mom.
While at the hospital, Della alerted those in the critical care unit when Heather was having a problem catching her breath. When Heather was released from the hospital Della went to the girl’s home and while there would pace and whine when she sensed an impending seizure.
Before Della arrived at the hospital, Heather was pale and lethargic, Jones said. Within an hour of the dog’s arrival, Heather’s color had improved and she was more alert.
Heather has been diagnosed with complex partial seizures and will be on medication the rest of her life, she said.
Della returned to her owners’ Temple home on Monday and around midnight the dog began to pace and could not be calmed. Wheeler called Jones and asked her to check on Heather. A few minutes later, Heather had a seizure.
“That told me neither time nor distance transcends the bond between these two,” Jones said.
Heather, out of the hospital since Friday, said having Della with her made her feel safe.
“It was comforting having her with me at the hospital.” Heather said. “She’s my best friend.”
The dog has a strong bond with her owner, but it’s different from the one Della has with Heather, Wheeler said.
Della is very in tune with people and dogs, he said, but there’s no denying what she has with Heather is special.
Della has had scent training and has been taught to scratch at or near the object once found, but it’s doubtful that it has anything to do with her uncanny ability to predict Heather’s seizures.
“What she has with Heather, Della did on her own,” Wheeler said.
“The fact that it’s a Rottweiler … you might expect such a bond between a child and a Lab or retriever,” Jones said. “Many people want to cross the street to avoid a Rottweiler and even I wasn’t so sure, but Della has changed all that.”
The family has had a running joke for the past couple of months with Heather saying she was going to get a Rottweiler and her parents being less than supportive.
“Now she’s going to get a ‘Rotty,’” Jones said.
The Jones raise Corgis and Heather spends summers working at the Belton Veterinary Clinic. Her sights are set on becoming a large animal vet.
Wheeler said when Della has a litter Heather will be getting a puppy.
Fighting the perception that Rottweilers are dangerous is a goal of Wheeler’s.
“Della is a happy-go-lucky dog, but she’ll do anything asked of her,” Wheeler said. “She’s a huge pleaser and honestly, that’s the typical Rottweiler.”
Wheeler has been training dogs all his life, and has run Sit Means Sit in Belton, a dog training business, for four years.
“We’ve seen hundreds of dogs over the last couple of years and the majority, even pit bulls, are great dogs,” he said. “It’s just bad ownership. If the dogs aren’t treated right and maintained, they’ll go bad.”
Most dogs can be trained, but the ability to detect a seizure must be instinctive, Jones said.
“Della means the world to me … she’s the best dog ever,” Heather said. “Without her I’d probably still be in the hospital.”
Heather will heading back to school today with Della in tow.
“I feel safe with her, because I know she’s looking out for me,” Heather said.
“Her teacher said Della is welcome anytime,” Jones said.
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