Your First Best Friend

In sickness and in health – pets are great for children!.

- Noleen Fourie

At the age of three and a half years old Duncan Smuts, currently 12 years old, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This was extremely stressful for Duncan and his family, especially considering that he is a brittle diabetic – this means that his condition is particularly difficult to control. Dangerously low blood sugar levels are always a concern, and that is where dogs can assist. Animaltalk chatted to Duncan and his parents, Greg and Jenny Ann Smuts, about his medical alert dog, Honey.

How did it happen that Duncan got paired up with Honey?

We considered getting a dog for Duncan for a few years, but they were only available from various associations overseas such as Dogs for Diabetics (D4D), and were very costly. By chance we came across Carien Meyer, a dog trainer in Melkbosstrand, who was very keen to assist us in training a diabetic assist dog. Carien found Honey, a Golden Retriever who she thought would be suitable for Duncan, but unfortunately was not able to continue with the training and handed over to Lucy Breytenbach (Just Dogs Behaviour Services).

When did Honey come home with you, and was there an adjustment period? Do you have any other pets who had to adjust to a new dog?