MAN’S BEST FRIEND AND COMPANION
Birdsboro manager receives seizure response dog
BIRDSBORO >> “I am excited and overwhelmed.”
That was the response from Aaron Durso Aug. 15 — just hours after meeting the service dog that will assist him in his daily struggle with a generalized seizure disorder.
Durso, who is Birdsboro Borough manager, has been working since December to raise his portion of the funds necessary to bring a service dog into his life. In early August he achieved that goal.
“This is so exciting, words really can’t describe it for me. This is a dream for us and something we have been waiting for,” he added.
Durso had spent a busy first day with his new companion Dexter — a 1-yearold golden retriever he obtained through the organization Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers. They spent that first day bonding — visiting Petco, and an area restaurant before ending the day at a Birdsboro Borough Council meeting.
“This is pretty exciting to see it all coming together,” Michelle Durso said on that first day. “I definitely felt some relief, but there is a lot of infor-
mation to learn.”
Durso has been experiencing seizures since 1983 — a disability as the result of a vaccination he received while in the military and stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, Ala.
Within days of receiving the vaccine, Durso suffered his first seizure. Since then his seizures have never been classified as under control. As the years have gone on the frequency has intensified. Durso said he has seizures on an almost daily basis.
In fact, Durso had a seizure on that first day — just hours after he was introduced to Dexter. Over the next three days, Durso experienced at least six additional seizures.
As he is trained to do, Dexter immediately went into “work mode” with that first seizure and those that have come since.
“It’s been good coming out of the seizure and having Dexter right next to me. He lays with his head on mine, licks me and nudges me,” Durso said. “It is comforting because I can pet him, he then lays down next to me after the seizure until I wake up.”
Durso’s wife Michelle said with that first seizure, she saw the comfort Dexter provided — even putting his paw in Aaron’s hand.
“When he goes down, Dexter is all over him, and when he comes to, Dexter lies near him,” she said. “Before Aaron opens his eyes, he starts stroking Dexter.”
Durso said Dexter has adjusted to his home and is working hard.
“He never lets me out of his sight and constantly checks on me. Even if we are in the same room, he will come up about every 30 minutes and put his head on my lap and make sure I am OK. He does that at the office, at home, at church,” Durso said, adding that there has also been time for play, as Dexter becomes acquainted with the Durso’s 12-year-old yellow lab, Graham.
Dexter will be Durso’s constant companion — the pair will go everywhere together.
When fully trained, Dexter will retrieve medication for Durso, open the refrigerator to get a juice, bring him the telephone, open doors and alert people nearby that something has happened.
Dexter will also do what he can to help Durso avoid injury during a seizure, like putting himself between Durso and the danger.
And down the road, a device will be installed in the Durso home — a large round disc — which when pressed by Dexter, will dial several phone numbers that are prioritized. If no one answers, 9-1-1 will be dialed and first responders dispatched.
Dexter was bred, raised and trained by Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers, a Virginiabased service organization that provides service dogs for people with invisible disabilities like PTSD, diabetes, seizures and autism. Born last August, Dexter spent about eight months with a puppy raiser being socialized, before returning to the 330-acre farm where he was matched to Durso and began his intensive training.
During that first week in Birdsboro, Dexter’s trainer stayed with the Durso family — going everywhere with them and Dexter. She’ll come back about every four months over the next 12 to 18 months.
For those first few days, she essentially was a trainer for Dexter and the Durso family.
“There is a lot of bonding going on, and everyone is getting comfortable,” said Erin Gray, senior trainer at Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers. “Dexter’s training is continuing, but there is also a lot of information Michelle and Aaron need to know.”
There are commands Durso must learn, that Dexter has already been taught. For example, when out in public, people should greet Dexter only after Durso has given him permission to “visit.”
Right now Gray said there are more than 20 initial commands that Dexter knows and that the family needed to learn.
“That number will grow as we find out what Aaron’s needs are,” Michelle Durso added.
In addition to meeting staff at borough hall, Durso and Dexter paid visits that first week to the police, Southern Berks EMS and Birdsboro-Union Fire Department — the first responders who may be called in to assist Durso during a seizure.
“It’s part of our protocol to visit with first responders,” said Gray. “We want them to know what they’re walking into.”
BUFD chief Scott Kulp said Dexter is the first such service dog he’s aware the department has worked with. He invited Durso and Dexter back to a meeting of the full department, and suggested the pair stop in during Durso’s daily walk to work to meet onduty firefighters.
Gray and Durso will communicate weekly until her next visit.
“It’s been good coming out of the seizure and having Dexter right next to me. He lays with his head on mine, licks me and nudges me. It is comforting because I can pet him, he then lays down next to me after the seizure until I wake up.” — Aaron Durso, on his experiences with his seizure dog
“We want to keep his (Dexter’s) training moving forward, tailored to what the family wants,” Gray said.
For more information about Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers, visit www.sdwr.org .