Dogs trained to pre-sense attacks!

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Exclusive: Wonder dog Ebony has helped cure my epilepsy, reveals Scots woman

Feb 14 2009 By Stephen Stewart

CORINNA Murray believes her special dog Ebony has helped her beat the nightmare of epilepsy.

The 34-year-old once suffered up to 15 seizures a day.

But she now says that, thanks to her specially trained collie cross, she hasn't had one for months.

Corinna, who lives in Dumfries with her 38-year-old husband Willie, said: "Ebony is amazing. I have no doubt she has played a large part in helping me to become seizure-free recently.

"She can tell me in advance when I am about to have a seizure and this means that I can get myself somewhere safe before it happens.

"I was having up to 15 seizures a day and was suffering all sorts of injuries from falling over."

Ebony is trained to give Corinna and Willie a warning 10 minutes before a seizure.

She lies down and gives a special, urgent bark.

Corinna said: "Stress was often a trigger for my seizures and she certainly helps reduce that."

Corinna is one of nearly 40,000 people in Scotland who have epilepsy and is the only person in the country to have a registered epilepsy assistance dog.

Experts in Sheffield put Ebony and other seizure dogs through a gruelling 170 hours of training.

Corinna added: "The experts are not entirely sure how dogs like Ebony can pick up on a seizure before it happens.

"They think she could be spotting small physical changes."

Now Ebony is training to be a disability assistance dog that can help with getting dressed, switching on lights and even loading and unloading the washing machine.

Corinna said: "Ebony can already pick up the phone and get help for me if I need it. She is like a part of me and I could never do without her."