Jade, Brooke, and Nettle (03:19)

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Nettle, a yellow Labrador service dog, helps twins, Brooke and Jade who have diabetes type 1. Their mother found The Lions Foundation where they received Nettle, the first certified diabetes assist dog in Canada. Nettle can detect when blood sugar is low and alert the twins' parents.

Nettle’s Job (03:48)

Labradors are used for a variety of scent-related jobs. Nettle has ongoing training to ensure she can smell low blood sugar in the twins. Nettle alerts parents, can fetch the sugar kit, and calm Brooke and Jade when they are hyperactive or have anxiety.

Brooke and Jade Go Bowling (02:44)

Brooke and Jade have never been away from their parents because of their type 1 diabetes. Their parents allow them to go bowling with their friends because they have Nettle who can detect low blood sugar. Nettle helps the family get through difficult times.

Training Service Dogs (01:50)

Lisa-Marie Guernon of Dominion Assistance Dogs trains dogs to ignore distractions and stay focused. She uses umbrellas, soccer balls, and other items. If a service dog stays relaxed, it helps the owner stay relaxed.

Steve and Squirt (02:09)

An Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin helps Steve, a war veteran with PTSD. Squirt is specially trained to help children with autism; dolphins make good service animals because of their gentle nature, intuition, and intelligence. Steve also suffers from anterograde amnesia, a condition that removes the ability to create new memories.

Hippotherapy (02:18)

Through Bit by Bit Riding Center, Steve’s wife found hippotherapy. Riding horses helps with many physical, cognitive, and speech therapies. Steve rides a horse named Country Music to improve balance and stability.

Animal Therapy (04:49)

Steve’s wife finds Island Dolphin Care, an assisted therapy that trains dolphins in ways that match their temperament. Steve, who suffers from acute PTSD, was matched with Squirt because she is patient and gentle. Steve improved physically with the help of a quarter horse and emotionally with the help of a dolphin.

Credits: Jade, Brooke & Nettle/Steve & Squirt—Collar of Duty: Season 1 (00:31)

Credits: Jade, Brooke & Nettle/Steve & Squirt—Collar of Duty: Season 1