Ruby isn't your average lab. Not only is she a valued member of the family, she routinely saves the life of 3-year-old Faith, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 9 months old.
A diabetic alert dog, Ruby has been with the Wilson family for two years now. Incredibly, she can sniff out when Faith's blood sugar levels reach critical levels—below 100 or above 180—releasing a faint scent akin to that of nail polish remover.
Apparently that fluctuation can happen as many as 30 times a day, and it happened four times during their very first night together. When it does, Ruby has been trained to bring mom Sarah Wilson a special toy to alert her.
Dogs like Ruby don't come cheap. At around $10,000, they are trained at several centres in the States, according to DiabeticAlertDog.com.
Not that Faith's family, who raised money to purchase the pooch, can put a price on what Ruby has done for them.
Other heroic canines include goldennoodle who goes by the name Mister Gibbs. Gibbs guards 3-year-old Alida Knobloch, who has a rare lung condition known as neuroendocrine hyperplasia in infancy (NEHI). Gibbs accompanies her to the playground with a portable oxygen tank strapped to his back.
Truly, an entire family's best friend.
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