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Woman's Shares Potentially Life-Saving Advice About Service Dogs

Woman's Shares Potentially Life-Saving Advice About Service Dogs

Her important post has since gone viral

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A woman has shared some important information about what you should if you see a service dog on its own.

Tessa Connaughton, from California, has a service dog named Raider who helps her with her autism and epilepsy.

Speaking to Huffington Post, Tessa said that Raider if she has an epileptic seizure, the clever dog is being shown how to roll her onto her side, press an emergency alert button that Tessa carries with her and protect her head.

PA

However, as Tessa has only recently been diagnosed with epilepsy, his training isn't finished yet and in the meantime he's been taught to run off and get help.

Taking to Tumblr, Tessa shared a story about how members of the public can help in the case of an emergency.

She explained that on a recent trip out she slipped and fell, Raider assumed she was having a seizure so ran off to go and get help. Tessa, who was unhurt from the fall, got up and went after the dog, when she found him he was attempting to get the attention of a 'very annoyed woman'.

Twitter/Tumblr

"She was swatting him away and telling him to go away," Tessa wrote. "So, I feel like I need to make this heads-up - if a service dog without a person approaches you, it means the person is down and in need of help.

"Don't get scared, don't get annoyed, follow the dog."

She went on to explain that had she been having a seizure she could have vomited and choked or hit her head.

She ended the post: "If what's-his-face could understand that Lassie wanted him to go to the well, you can figure out that a dog in a vest proclaiming it a service dog wants you to follow him."

Since she shared the post, it's spread across social media like wildfire, with many people thanking her for the advice.

WATCH: BLIND MAN ATTACHES CAMERA TO HIS DOG TO SHOW HOW HARD HE WORKS


Talking to Buzzfeed, Tessa added that although we are usually told to leave service dogs alone and let them get on with their job, the one time we should ignore that rule is when they're alone.

"It was a good thing I talked about it because apparently a lot of people would have just left him alone," she added.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Interesting, Animals