Image Credit: SENT/ Juddana Caros
A triple amputee from Vancouver Island made the trek to an animal rescue society in Merritt last month to get a dog to train to take care of his vital medical requirements.
Norm Thompson, a strong diesel mechanic, was electrocuted by 440 volts in an office mishap twelve years ago that led to the elimination of both of his legs in 2015. He already had actually a badly harmed right-hand man from a previous mishap.
“All the nerves and muscles started to rot over the years and my feet went black,” he said. “The surgeon said you are at the end, you have to lose the legs or infections will get into your heart.”
Thompson has a service dog called Beau trained in life-saving treatments that remains by his side 24/7, however his dog is getting old and nearing retirement. He and his assistance individual needed to discover a replacement puppy to train up.
After looking all over the Island, and after that Vancouver, without discovering a dog huge enough for the job, the set saw a media post by Angel’s Animal Rescue in Merritt about a lab/great Dane cross puppy.
“The puppy will grow to be bigger than Beau and I need a bigger framed dog to support me,” Thompson said. “I don’t want to hurt the dog and feel bad because the vet told me Beau’s hips are hurting and I didn’t know.”
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The brand-new puppy has a huge function to fill. He will be trained and ultimately get accredited as a service dog in Vancouver. The dog will learn how to select Thompson up when he falls, push an emergency situation button when he is choking and identify when his sugar levels threaten.
“If I fall over, I put a cane up against a wall and the dog comes alongside and I hook onto its harness with one hand. He stands me up so I don’t need people to come to my rescue. This is what we are training the young one to do.”
Thompson is a diabetic and has a choking condition, so he uses a gadget with an emergency situation button around his neck.
“My dog detects when my sugars are out of whack and he’ll sit me down,” he said. “Beau knows to push the button for help, he’ll jump up and push it with his nose. We are working with Bear to teach him to push the button because I can’t speak when I’m choking.”
The puppy is 6 months old.
“He’s learning but he is a typical little squirt, he has a long ways to go,” Thompson said. “When we got him he wasn’t house trained at all so we were starting from scratch.”
The Angel’s Animal Rescue Society in Merritt contributed the dog to Thompson and spent for its neutering and very first set of shots.
“We are happy to help this man out,” said society creator Judanna Caros. “This dog is going to have a really good life. Norm has another dog and a big yard for them to run in. We rescued the dog and now the dog will rescue this person by pressing an emergency button.”
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Thompson provides the dogs an hour to play two times a day. Once their vests are removed they understand they can play and be “normal dog.” He takes a Frisbee with him to appointments to throw for his dog at the park afterwards, a “reward for being a super dog.”
Caros explained Thompson as “an inspiration and bright star in his community.”
When he isn’t training his brand-new puppy, he can be discovered repairing tugboat engines or assisting brand-new amputees or participating in neighborhood occasions.
“In tugs there isn’t much height in the engine room, maybe 38 inches, so I pop my legs off and away I go, I can fit in tight spots,” he said. “If I need to out on the dock I pop my legs back on.”
Thompson said regional health centers have his number on hand to pass onto brand-new amputees who have concerns. He didn’t have a coach to talk with after his amputations.
“Life is altogether different,” he said. “Now I make sure I’m there to talk with anyone who is new to it. Any amputee that says they don’t have bad days, don’t buy it. My purpose to get out to new amputees that you are going to have bad days. You rest that day, deal with what’s pulling you down and know tomorrow will be better. You keep moving ahead.”
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Thompson said a number of months after losing his 2nd leg, he and his assistance individual went dancing. He most just recently went on a neighborhood walk for homeless awareness where he finished a kilometre, something he is rather happy with.
He is grateful to Angel’s Animal Rescue, B.C. Ferries who waived the cost of his crossing and vehicle both methods, anybody who contributed funds for the journey to Merritt to get the dog, and specifically his friend and assistant Jan Stokes.
“Jan is my medical support person and health coach,” he said. “She helps me stay up and did the paperwork for Bear, the driving and everything. I wouldn’t be able to pull this off without her.”
Click here to for more information on Thompson and his dogs or to make a donation.
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