Thursday, July 16, 2015

Why I Write About Service Dogs by Margaret Daley

Why I Write About Service Dogs
By Margaret Daley

When I taught students with special needs, I occasionally had the chance to also work with a service dog. They are amazing animals. Dogs are used to help people with various problems, not only with different disabilities (like blindness, epilepsy, diabetes, physical, post traumatic stress disorder). I am currently writing a series for about Caring Canines who are service and therapy dogs. Below is the first in the series featuring a therapy dog for a child who was depressed and recovering from a severe injury.

My latest book about service dogs is called The Nanny’s New Family. This story is about a seizure dog. In the story a child learns he has epilepsy.  While I taught school, I dealt with students who had seizures at school from petite to grand mal. Researching about seizure dogs was very interesting.


Canines also help law enforcement agencies with bomb detecting, drug detecting, suspect apprehension, tracking and cadaver retrieval as well as in search and rescue endeavors. Their scent of smell is keen compare to ours. For example, they can smell a dead person buried in the ground or deep under the water. Below is a book I wrote about a cadaver dog.

They can sense things in us that we aren’t even aware of. My vet told me about a service dog that was with his owner who is diabetic at the airport. The service dog indicated a passenger who was forty feet away had plummeting blood sugar, which was the case. Many animals can sense when someone is in need of emotional support, whether in grief, depression or pain.  Below is a cover of a book (coming out in February 2015) of To Save Her Child. The hero has a tracking dog used to find lost people.

Have you known a service (or therapy) dog or seen one in action? What kind of dog was it?

Margaret Daley:

Margaret Daley, a USA Today Bestseller of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.

25 comments:

  1. Rat Terriers--they are great farm dogs and companion dogs.They make great watch dogs, not guard dogs but they let you know if the bad guys are prowling about. They are loyal and fun dogs, such funny things they do to get attention. They usually have longevity but Addie, our Rat Terrier got lost for 5 weeks at 5 months old and now at only 5 years old she has a heart problem. I think that is due to the stress of that time. I trained her with cheerios to sit, lay down, roll over, come to her name etc. She is on medication and doing well so far. She adopted a stray dachshund who showed up at our house and he's her baby. His name is Bandit because he stole my husband's heart. Sorry if this too long a story and I know she is not a service dog but I think her service is that she is a great stress reliever :)

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  2. One of my friends has a service dog for her son, who has diabetes. It's a special comfort for her since her son, who is an adult, has moved across the country due to his career.

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    1. I've done a little research on dogs that work with people who have diabetes. Amazing.

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  3. I love dogs and those I meet in public I just automatically what to pet them. But I'm careful to make sure they want to be petted. But if their a service dog I don't unless the owner gives permission. I first saw and loved therapy dogs when I helped after the tornado hit in Moore, Oklahoma. They were so sweet and helped those affected by the storm. I have a dachshund named Jazziwho is my baby. She has gotten me through some tough times and brightens my days with her love. It's good servant talk because I talk to her about everything. Lol. I'm looking forward to this series.

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    1. I meant its a good thing she can't talk not servant.lol

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    2. Karen, I love in Oklahoma and certainly remember that time when those tornadoes. Scary. Pets can really help people emotionally.

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  4. I love stories with service dogs in them!

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  5. I am blessed to work at the VA... and I see service dogs of all types and for all reasons everyday at work. They are ALL great! So glad to have them in our lives, making it better.

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  6. Me, too! would love to read more of them.

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  7. These books sound great! I haven't had the opportunity to see a service dog in action. Every now and then I see them out and about in our community and my husband shares about some of the K9's that work on his department. I love reading about them :)

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    1. Lori, when I taught, I had a service dog attend school with one of my students. It was neat seeing them together.

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  8. I love all dogs -- if I have to say which kind is my favorite I would say: Heinz 57 variety or mutts -- they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and looks and are the most caring, loveable and eager to please animals I have ever had the honor and pleasure to share an adventure with

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  9. When I was growing up, we had a neighbor in the apartment building who was blind. He had a black lab who was his guide dog. He had a job and his dog helped him to get to his work and all around town. They are not only wonderful service animals but companions as well! I also know several people who have different service or companion animals that are a tremendous help to them in their daily living activities. Dogs are very sensitive to our needs and emotions and are there for us to bring comfort!

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    1. teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    2. Trixi, i knew someone who was blind and had a seeing and eye dog to help her get around.

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  10. Service dogs are a wonderful blessing. I love reading about them.

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  11. Service dogs are a true blessing for those in need. I thank you for writing stories about these amazing animals.

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  12. One of my kids teachers has twins with cerebral palsy and they have a service dog. So amazing what they can do.

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  13. One of my kids teachers has twins with cerebral palsy and they have a service dog. So amazing what they can do.

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