Lodge hosts ‘Dogs Assisting Diabetics’ event

Nonprofit has a ‘nose’ for helping people with disease

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jul 21, 2010

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A Forest Grove nonprofit foundation called Dogs Assisting Diabetics is sponsoring a fundraising walk Sunday, July 25 at McMenamins Grand Lodge.

The walk will begin at 10 a.m. at the lodge, 3505 Pacific Ave. Registration is $30 with a DAD T-shirt and $20 without.

School teacher Kristin Tarnowski, who has trained puppies with Guide Dogs for the Blind for 10 years, started DAD with Scott and Jenny Minor, whose daughter, Jordyn, has Type 1 diabetes.

Dogs are able to smell changes in blood sugar levels through a person’s sweat, and can alert diabetics that it’s time to test their blood sugar, according to the foundation’s website, www.dogsassistingdiabetics.com.

People in the Portland metropolitan area who are insulin-dependent may qualify for a DAD-trained diabetic alert dog. An online application for receiving a dog will be available Aug. 1.

The foundation is made up entirely of volunteers. Saturday’s fundraising event is designed to kick-start donations.

For more information about the event, visit the foundation’s website.

To get directions to the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, visit www.mcmenamins.com/426-grand-lodge-home.