CANTON – United Helper’s Maplewood campus has an Angel. Not the traditional winged-type, halo-bearing angel, but a blessing nonetheless.

Maplewood’s angel comes in a tiny, fluffy, white package, bringing joy to all she encounters. Angel is United Helpers’ Maplewood Campus service dog, and she is anything but ordinary.

Service animals have been around for many years and there are many documented success stories of pet therapy, including physical, mental and emotional benefits. Angel, however, is not your traditional service animal.

She is registered with Service Dogs of America and is trained not only to provide comfort and companionship, but she can also alert individuals when dramatic health changes are imminent.

“Angel is able sense when a person with epilepsy is going to have a seizure, if a person with diabetes has low-blood sugar or if a person is about to have a stroke,” explained Josie Barr, Angel’s owner and fellow Maplewood employee. “She is trained to alert the individual that is about to have an episode; alert others so that they can find help and to stay with the individual until the episode is over. It’s pretty remarkable to witness.”

According to research, humans secrete different chemicals that are present in our systems immediately prior to having several types of health incidents. Angel is able to recognize the different scent and is trained to alert people as soon as she senses major changes.

“Angel is a very valuable member of our team,” said Todd R. Amo, Maplewood Administrator. “Residents look forward to seeing her and she provides many hours of enjoyment for our residents.”

Angel is on the job most days, Monday through Friday. Her typical day begins with a ride to work with Barr, her owner, who commutes from Waddington. In the fall and winter months, Angel rides in her very own car seat, specially designed so that she is secure and can see out of the windows. In the spring and summer, Angel rides to work in style, on the back of her owner’s motorcycle.

Angel’s day is underway very soon after she arrives at Maplewood. Almost immediately, she takes her daily visitation rounds. Residents load Angel into their walkers and travel throughout the campus to visit with other residents. After her morning walk is complete, Angel heads down to physical therapy for her exercise on the treadmill.

“Angel is not only entertaining, she is motivational,” explains Selina Kellison, Maplewood physical therapist assistant. “Patients tend to work a little bit harder at their own therapy when Angel is around. She is also very attentive to those who are waiting for their therapy to begin and is exceptionally keen when it comes to sensing that someone needs a little pick me up. She will walk over to a patient and sit patiently to see if they are interested in petting her or would like to pick her up.”

After her visit to the therapy suites, it is time for the mail run and for visits on Maplewood’s Main Street. Angel’s afternoon usually consists of more walks and visitation both with Maplewood’s residents and children from the Canton Day Care Center.

Therapy and service animals can be a great asset, but not all pets are like Angel. In order to be considered for therapy and service, animals need to exhibit certain characteristics, including an easy-going, amiable nature, acceptance of strangers and new environments, and a generally friendliness and willingness to be petted and handled for long periods. Pets must also be able to respond to basic obedience commands, and both the pets and their owners or handlers must usually attend workshops or other training sessions before participating in a therapy program.

“Angel is an exceptionally easygoing dog,” Amo added. “She is very obedient and patient. She is not only a trained, pet therapy animal. She obviously genuinely enjoys being around people.”