Flynn, the service dog, has been a beacon of hope and a lifesaver for his owner on countless occasions.
However, there was one instance when an unexpected distraction led to a scary incident for his owner.
This story serves as a stark reminder of why it’s crucial to refrain from petting a service dog, no matter how adorable and friendly they may appear.
Hailey Ashmore, the owner of Flynn, had dreams of becoming a dancer as a child.
She would spend hours practicing, honing her skills, and nurturing her passion.
However, her life took an unexpected turn during her teenage years when she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
A genetic disease that affects collagen production in the body.
The disease brought with it a host of debilitating symptoms, including chronic pain, joint dislocations, subluxations, hyperextension, and fatigue.
The severity of these symptoms forced Hailey to give up her dreams of dancing and rely on mobility aids for her daily activities.
As if the physical pain wasn’t enough, Hailey started experiencing seizures, which led to her spending most of her time in the hospital.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged in the form of Flynn, a puppy chosen to be trained as a service dog.
With Flynn by her side, Hailey was able to regain some of her independence.
Together, Hailey and Flynn learned to navigate the world.
Flynn was trained to detect when Hailey was about to have a seizure and could fetch medications, open doors, and even find others to help.
His incredible abilities have saved Hailey’s life on numerous occasions.
Thanks to Flynn, Hailey’s confidence began to grow.
However, a distressing incident occurred during a visit to her father’s workplace.
One of her father’s coworkers, unaware of the consequences, decided to play with Flynn.
This distraction led to a catastrophic event.
As the coworker was petting Flynn, Hailey began to have a seizure.
Normally, Flynn would have alerted her before the seizure intensified, but the distraction caused a delay in his response.
As a result, Hailey fell to the ground, and the violent motions of her seizure against the rug caused burns to her face, necessitating a hospital visit.
Flynn was devastated by the incident even though he was distracted by the coworker.
Since then, Flynn has been trained to be less easily distracted, ensuring he can protect his best friend from any further harm.
At the time of the incident, Flynn was still in training to become a fully accredited service dog.
He has since become accredited, allowing him to accompany Hailey wherever she goes.
This story underscores the incredible abilities of service dogs like Flynn.
They are more than just cute companions; they are protectors and lifesavers.
It’s a reminder to us all to resist the urge to pet a service dog, as it could lead to unintended and potentially dangerous consequences.
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