Sally Burton spent the first 28 years of her life unable to go out alone and had never even made a cup of tea, her independence severely limited by epilepsy. Diagnosed at the age of 10, Sally from East Markham endured up to 70 seizures a day, making everyday life a constant challenge.

Her condition was so severe that Sally’s mother lived with her and her husband, Philip, to ensure she was never left alone. The frustration of her situation often triggered more seizures, creating a vicious cycle.

Enter Maisie: A Life-Changing Partnership

Everything changed when Sally found Support Dogs, a Yorkshire-based charity that trains assistance dogs to empower individuals with autism, epilepsy, or physical disabilities to live more independent lives.

Sally, now 57, recently graduated as a successful partnership with her third seizure alert dog, Maisie, a Labrador/Golden Retriever cross. Maisie has been trained to give Sally an extraordinary 50-minute advance warning of an oncoming seizure, allowing her to find a safe place and take control of her condition.

“She’s brilliant,” Sally says. “I’ve recently started having a few more seizures each day, and she’s never missed one. If I’m cooking, she nudges my hand. If I don’t realise she’s nudging me, she gives me a little bark. I can then get to the couch to have my seizure without fear of injuring myself.”

The Unique Bond with Each Dog

Maisie follows in the pawprints of Sally’s previous seizure alert dogs, Star and Robbie. Star, Support Dogs’ 49th trained dog, was paired with Sally in 1995 by the charity’s now-CEO, Rita Howson. Each dog brought their own unique style to their role: Star gave a high-pitched bark, Robbie would sit in front of Sally and stare her down, while Maisie uses a gentle nudge and bark system.

“Maisie lays near me to make sure I’m safe. Those 50 minutes give me a lot more freedom,” says Sally.

A New Lease on Life

The impact of having a support dog has been profound. Sally’s seizures initially reduced from 70 a day to just two or three. However, stress from recent health challenges, including hospital appointments for a heart condition and lymphoedema, has caused an increase to six or seven seizures a day. Even so, Maisie’s reliability offers Sally both safety and comfort.

Initially, Sally was sceptical about whether a dog could truly help. But after attending a Support Dogs open day, she witnessed their incredible abilities firsthand. With her first support dog, Star, Sally discovered newfound confidence, allowing her to go into town, meet friends, and live a fuller life.

“Each dog has been marvellous in different ways,” Sally adds. “They’ve changed my life.”

Learn More About Support Dogs

To learn more about Support Dogs’ epilepsy seizure alert programme, visit www.supportdogs.org.uk/epilepsy.