Stage 4 Comp - Animals - Canine Lifesavers - Comprehension Pack.pdf

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Animals Text focus: Information Text Canine Life Savers For many dog owners, their four-legged friend is practically a member of the family. It’s no wonder...

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Animals Text focus: Information Text Canine Life Savers For many dog owners, their four-legged friend is practically a member of the family. It’s no wonder dogs have been called ‘man’s best friend’. However, for those with some medical conditions or disabilities, assistance dogs can be even more than that. With the right training, they help people to live independent, happy and safe lives. For those with sight loss, having a guide dog opens up the world around them. Dogs assist them in finding their way around, in avoiding obstacles and in feeling more confident. Puppies are carefully checked for their suitability. If a dog is easily distracted, quickly spooked or unmotivated, they won’t make a good guide dog. A er selection, the puppies are trained for many months. Then they are matched with an owner. Dogs can also be trained as hearing dogs for those who are deaf. They help alert their owner to important sounds such as alarm clocks or doorbells. They also help with lifesaving sounds such as fire alarms and other sirens. Those with physical disabilities can likewise benefit from a canine sidekick. A dog can help with physical tasks such as opening doors, helping with shopping or laundry and getting dressed. They even tidy up their own toys and put their own bowl in the sink when they have eaten: now that is a well-trained dog! As well as being their owner’s eyes, ears or hands, dogs are of course known for their amazing sense of smell. Believe it or not, dogs can use their sensitive noses to detect certain illnesses. Medical alert dogs can be used for those with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes for example. This condition occurs when the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood and can be life-threatening. Talented dogs can be trained to sniff out signs of low blood sugar. They alert the person that they need to take action. They bring medical supplies and also get help in an emergency. Other dogs assist those who suffer from seizures due to epilepsy. Seizures can result in a person losing control over their body or becoming unconscious. Some dogs appear to sense when a person is about to have a seizure (whether they smell an early sign or notice some slight changes in behaviour is unclear). These dogs are trained to get help when their owner has a seizure by pressing an alarm or alerting someone. Alternatively, they might protect A ding ro Rea und all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed e um C u r r ic ul Th http://www.literacyshedplus.com the person during a seizure by preventing them from hitting the floor or from hurting themselves. As well as dogs who serve and protect a single owner, there are medical trials involving dogs detecting illnesses or diseases before doctors or tests are able to. Dogs can smell certain types of cancer or bacteria for example. This helps patients get treatment sooner. Saving lives and changing lives is all in a day’s work for these dogs. RETRIEVAL FOCUS 1. Why might a young dog be rejected for guide dog training? 2. In what ways could a dog be a lifesaver for someone who is deaf? 3. What is type 1 diabetes? 4. How can a dog help someone during a seizure? 5. In what ways can bio-detection dogs help with early diagnosis? VIPERS QUESTIONS V What is another word for ‘assist’? V Find and copy a word which means frightened. E What alternative words has the writer used to avoid repetition of ‘dog’? E How can we tell it is somewhat mysterious how dogs detect seizures? S Summarise the ways in which dogs help people lead independent lives. all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com