(written by Gemma, Jack’s mum)
When Jack was a puppy, he was being trained to become an assistance dog.
He had the heart for it, the intelligence for it, and all the willingness in the world. But sometimes life has other plans. Jack struggled with the public access side of assistance work. Crowds, unfamiliar dogs and people were simply too much for him, and eventually it became clear that he wasn’t going to pass as a fully qualified assistance dog.
At the time, it felt like a disappointment.
What we didn’t realise was that Jack had already found the job he was meant to do.
My husband Michael lives with refractory epilepsy following a brain injury caused by encephalitis. He has seizures every single day. Our lives revolve around keeping him safe, managing the aftermath, and learning to navigate a condition that has no cure.
And through it all, Jack has quietly become our seizure response dog.
He alerts us when something isn’t right. He stays with Michael during and after seizures. He helps me get Michael into the recovery position, nudging and encouraging him to roll over when he’s able. He stays close while Michael recovers, helping keep him calm when he’s confused and disorientated after a seizure. He gives me something to focus on when fear and panic threaten to take over. On the hardest days, he provides comfort, routine and a reason to keep moving forward.
He may not wear an assistance dog vest, but he performs his job with more dedication than we could ever have imagined.
Because Jack is reactive to both people and other dogs, giving him the exercise and freedom he deserves can be difficult. That’s why places like Run Free dog fields mean so much to us.
At least twice a week, and often more when we can, Jack gets to enjoy what every dog dreams of — freedom. He can run, sniff, explore, play and simply be himself without the worry of unexpected dogs or people approaching him.
Through careful introductions and a lot of patience, Jack has also built a little friendship group of his own. He now has four best doggy pals who take turns joining us on our adventures. Watching him play, zoom around and enjoy being a normal dog with his trusted friends is something we never take for granted.
For us, the secure fields are about much more than exercise.
Because Michael can have a seizure at any time, having a private field means I don’t have to worry about managing a medical emergency while also trying to keep Jack feeling safe around strangers. We know we’re safe. Jack knows he’s safe. And for an hour, we can all relax.
Over the years we’ve become a little obsessed with visiting different Run Free fields. We’ve explored Cardross, Inchinnan, Houston, Bishopton, Gartcosh, Kilmarnock, Lochwinnoch and probably a few more besides.
But Fairlie has definitely stolen our hearts.
Maybe it’s because it doesn’t turn into quite such a mud bath in winter. Maybe it’s the endless smells that keep Jack’s nose busy for the entire visit. Or maybe it’s the stunning views that make the perfect backdrop for the approximately 178,975 photos I seem to take every time we’re there!
Whatever the reason, Fairlie is our happy place.
Watching Jack race around with his tail wagging, nose working overtime and pure joy on his face is the best reward for a dog who gives us so much of himself every single day.
Jack may have failed one test.
But he became exactly the dog we needed.
Not an assistance dog.
Our seizure response dog.
Our protector.
Our comfort.
Our best friend.
And every time we watch him sprint across a Run Free field with complete freedom, we’re reminded that sometimes the path you didn’t plan for turns out to be the perfect one.
Gemma, Michael & Jack
@Seizure_Dog_Jack
