Ankeny student receives diabetic alert dog: ‘He so quickly became a part of our family’

ANKENY, Iowa – The school year is quickly coming to an end. For one student and his new friend, the lessons this year could be life-saving.

The workload is winding down in Mr. Cooper’s world culture class at Northview Middle School, but it’s just the beginning of a new friendship between Hunter Bishop and “Chuckles.”

“A dog in the school is not something that happens often,” Hunter said, “but I mean it’s kinda fun having another friend with me all the time.”

Chuckles is more than a friend. He’s also Hunter’s diabetic alert dog.

“Chuckles comes in and some days I don’t even know the dog is there,” teacher Cody Cooper said. “So it’s been a positive addition for us.”

The two came together because of Hunter’s mom who wanted to find a different way to help her freshman son manage his Type 1 diabetes.

“He sometimes goes really low, and he doesn’t know it,” Jenna Bishop explains. “He just keeps playing, he runs around, you know if he’s out with the guys playing ball he doesn’t care.”

She knew a diabetic alert dog would help Hunter be aware of his blood sugar levels, but didn’t realize how expensive one would be.

“An average diabetic alert dog can cost anywhere from $20,-30,000. But it was significantly less,” Bishop said. “Our family would never be able to do that if we didn’t go through the foundation.”

The Ron and Vicki Santo Foundation is named after the professional baseball player who also had diabetes. Its mission is to fund the training for diabetic alert dogs through “Bark to Basics” in Arizona. Bishop says only about a dozen dogs are placed a year, and Hunter was one of the lucky few.

“I think it might have been Christmas day my mom got the call and they said that they had a dog and we might be great candidates,” Hunter said.

“So we were chosen for some reason,” Bishop said, “and we went and picked him up in Arizona and he’s been amazing.”

Spring break was the first time the two met, but Chuckles knew who Hunter was right away. That’s because Hunter sent in saliva samples at different blood sugar levels and Chuckles’ nose was trained to know the scent.

“So he can sense the highs and lows coming before technology can even tell us,” Bishop said.

Then, Chuckles will nudge Hunter to let him know to check his blood sugar.

“That means if I’m high I gotta give myself insulin, if I’m low I gotta find a snack,” Hunter said.

Going from student to teacher has been a transition, but half days have been a good balance for the two before summer break.

“Chuckles will be going full days with me till I graduate,” said Hunter, “and then even after that he’ll be with me everywhere I go.”

A constant that gives peace of mind, and a friendship that’s grown into more.

“I know that there’s somebody else there that’s got Hunter and not just my husband and I,” Bishop said. “He so quickly became a part of our family, and we did need him.”

Chuckles’ next lesson is going fishing with Hunter and his friends this summer before he joins him at Ankeny Centennial in the fall.

Click on the links to learn more or donate to the Ron & Vicki Santo Diabetic Alert Dog Foundation or Bark to Basics .

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