Riley the Peanut Detecting Dog (AP)
For children with severe allergies, sometime these dogs can save their lives not allowing them near the trigger. Medical service dogs trained to sniff out peanut products and other allergens are becoming more common so that children do not have to live in a bubble and can attend events just like any other child their age. Their parents aren’t left guessing if allowing their child to go to a classmates party could be life threatening. The dog is there to help ensure the child does not go near something that could be harmful.
These dogs are trained to detect the allergen but some owners say they have had problems convincing schools, businesses and other public venues that the dogs must be accepted as service animals, the same way as dogs whose owners’ disabilities are more apparent.
