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Kodiak, a German Shepherd owned by Patty Heckathorn of Mannford, Okla., has been trained to detect when her owner’s blood sugar level is low.
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MAN’S BEST FRIEND CAN BE MAN’S LIFESAVER
Kodiak, an 18-month-old German Shepherd is trained to save her master’s life.
Owner Patty Heckathorn, who is diabetic, began training Kodiak to detect changes in her blood sugar levels when he was a three-month-old puppy.
“At three months, I brought him into the house when my blood sugar level was either low or high,” Heckathorn said. “I would have him sit on the couch with me for five or 10 minutes so he could recognize something different.”
Heckathorn and Kodiak are participants in two dog shows at the Grady County Fairgrounds this weekend.
Heckathorn said the dog’s advanced sense of smell can detect changes in blood sugar levels.
Kodiak learned quickly to sense changes in Heckathorn’s blood sugar and to alert her. He was rewarded with a treat each time.
“After two or three months, I was sure he knew what he was doing,” she said. “Now, he nudges my hand, then gnaws on my arm and jumps up when he senses my low blood sugar.”
When Kodiak alerts her, Heckathorn tests her blood sugar.
“He’s always right,” she said.
Heckathorn, owner of Keystone German Shepherds in Mannford, Okla., owns 20 German Shepherds and often travels to shows with her friend Linda Pryor of Jones.
Pryor bought her first shepherd from Heckathorn and now she has six of them.
“She says it’s like Lay’s potato chips - she can’t have just one,” Heckathorn said.
“Casey’s Blue Mountain Promise,” better known as “Eva,” may not be able to detect blood sugar levels like Kodiak does, but she’s got a pretty fancy bloodline.
Eva, 4, who is handled by Odebt Massey of Yoder, Colo., is a Kerry Blue Terrier that originated in County Kerry, Ireland, and is now known as National Dog of Ireland.
She has been one of the top 10 dogs of her breed for the last three years.
But it’s no wonder she’s a top dog. She looks like she has a beard and mustache on her nose.
Her grandfather, “Champion Torum’s Scarf Michael,” or “Mick,” is the all-time winningest dog in the world, Massey said.
Mick won Best of Show at the Crufts international dog show in 2000, the Eukanuba Invitational Show in Orlando, Fla., and took Best of Show in the 2003 Westminster Kennel Club Show, attaining his American championship in only three shows, making him a Triple Crown Winner.
Kodiak and Eva, along with hundreds of other dogs, will be competing in the Oklahoma Sooner Circuit Cluster of Dog Shows Nov. 12-15 in the south building of the Grady County Fairgrounds.
The Canadian Valley Kennel Club will host shows on Thursday and Friday, with the OK Sooner Circuit Kennel Club hosting shows on Saturday and Sunday.
More than 4,000 dogs are entered, with participants coming from 47 states and Canada.
For more information about the dog shows, contact Judy at 348-8199 or Cheri at 376-2929.
The event is free and open to the public.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
