CBS Los Angeles reports that Tim Mullens is alive today because of his Golden Retriever, Garth. Mullens, who suffers from epileptic seizures, wears an electronic bracelet equipped with a panic button. Garth is trained to press the button when he picks up on a scent that accompanies Mullens’ seizures. One such seizure occurred Monday night when Mullens was alone at a relative’s house. Paramedics were alerted when Garth smartly hit the button. Mullens was transported to Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks , California, and Garth was with him when he woke. Watch the interview with Mullens here.
Unfortunately, dogs like Garth don’t come cheap. The cost assistance dogs like Garth is upwards of $22,000 and isn’t always covered by insurance. Additionally, it’s not only adults who suffer from seizures; children with similar seizures are generally not able to take part in the intense training that a seizure response dog requires. Fortunately, dogs are still available to help these kids through difficult medical procedures. To learn more about “Service Assistance Dogs” click here.