Girl Scout Troops Get Special Visit from Fellow Scout and Her Service Dog

The Hasbrouck Heights Daisy and Girl Scout troops have had several guest speakers during their regular meetings but this Wednesday, the girls and their leaders had some very special visitors when they gathered at Corpus Christi School.

Nine-year-old Jefferson resident Lindsey Parete and her mom Karen were on hand with Blaze, a 3-year-old golden retriever, who happens to be Lindsey’s service dog.

“I got her when I was 7,” said Lindsey, who was diagnosed with epilepsy shortly after birth. “Blaze goes with me almost everywhere, even school.”

Through special training, Blaze learned to detect through an acute sense of smell when Lindsey may be in danger of having seizure.

“A person can experience a chemistry change when they’re ill and the dogs are trained to tell when something’s not right,” Karen said, noting that Blaze has detected when Lindsey was spiking a fever, which is a common occurence before a seizure.

Karen explained that a friend suggested they look into getting a service dog because Lindsey’s seizures were so frequent, Karen was afraid to leave her side, even for a few minutes. Ultimately, Lindsey was put on a waiting list for Canine Assistants, a service dog training organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, for kids in need.

Two years later, Lindsey and her folks got a call.

“We were very, very lucky because only a few people get chosen,” said Karen, adding that a local charity foundation in their town raised the money – almost $25,000 -- to have Blaze join the family. “The trip to Georgia, the air fare, the hotel, everything, was paid for.”

A Hasbrouck Heights organization, Mickey’s Kids, founded by Tom and Michele Meli, last year raised $32,000 for a local boy with muscular dystrophy to get a service dog through Canine Assistants.

“This organization is very special to us,” said Michele Meli, who started the foundation with her husband after their dog Mickey passed away.

“We wanted to find a charity that helped disabled children, so when we saw a TV ad for Canine Assistants, we knew that was who we wanted to get involved with,” she said.

Through her affiliation with Canine Assistants, Michele met Lindsey and Karen and organized Wednesday's appearance at Corpus Christi.

“This is so great that the girls were willing to hear Lindsey’s story,” said Michele. “We’re hoping to be able to raise enough money again this year at our March fundraising event to put another service dog with a child in need.”

The Mickey's Kids Foundation fundraising event will take place March 16 at Il Villagio in Carlstadt. For more information on the event email steamboatwillie1@verizon.net.