St. Mary Magdalen Church students and parishioners Friday met Father Jack Siefert’s new service dog, Francis. Siefert is has type 1 diabetes, and Francis is trained to alert Siefert if his insulin level is too low or high.
Francis arrived in Brentwood Wednesday with Erin Coulter, a trainer/delivery person from Warren Retrievers, in Madison, VA, where he was trained.
Francis, who is 10 months old, is already trained to alert Siefert, but a trainer will visit for two days every three months for the next two years for further training.
Kim Gregg, from St. Peters, has had a diabetes service dog for about a year, and also spoke to the students in the assembly in the gym. Her dog, Charlie, is trained to bring Gregg her phone, a juice box, her insulin monitor, or to push a button that will call 911 if needed.
Gregg said Charlie is so good at sniffing out diabetics (that’s how the dogs know the insulin level, through scent), that he can find one when they’re walking through a mall.
Coulter said Francis went to confession with Father Siefert Friday. She said Thursday the dog wouldn’t go behind the curtain, but Friday he went in and sat by the father. Francis hasn’t done a Mass yet.
How genuinely lovely. Father deserves all the graces of God. I told him that since he has been with us, it’s been ‘St. Mary Magdalen’ on steroids! He said, “oh that’s illegal!!” Such humble wit! Welcome Francis!
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