"Apollo"
Posted: 10-18-10
Let me introduce you to "Apollo" that I first got to meet this morning at the Citrus County Animal Shelter.
Apollo, along with 25 other dogs had been rescued from an illegal puppy mill where he had spent the first two years of his life locked in a kennel and used for breeding.
Apollo is a Cane Corso Mastiff which is a beautiful dog as you can see. Naturally the first thing that happens after signing adoption papers is the ride home and is an adventure all it's own. After a stop at Petsmart to pick up a bright red harness and leash we finally got home where Apollo is exploring and getting used to all these new animals and birds in his life. Now "Apollo" has a forever home at Green Acres where he will be trained as a "Service Dog" to detect, alert, and respond to seizures.
Update on October 9, 2010. On Thursday I reduced the medication I take for Seizures (Dilantin) to find out what Apollo would do. I stayed home all day for safety reasons and waited. At about 10:00 P.M. Apollo was laying down and all of a sudden got up and came and put his head in my lap whimpering. He kept pawing at me with his foot and whimpering. About 30 minutes later I felt the aura of a seizure starting and was able to take sufficient medication to control it. As a second test I repeated the reduction of meds on Friday with the same results at around noon. I called my Doctor and after getting chewed out for my stupidity in taking that risk, he is also amazed that this breed of dog may have a genetic structure permitting them to detect and alert to seizures. Of course now that I have learned from that test, I will maintain my medication at the level I did when I had my previous service dog "Dude".
He is the perfect dog for me and this place. Thank you to all of your staff.
Dwayne L. Gillispie