Sire: Rin Tin Tins Wizzard
Dam: Rin Tin Tins Faith

DOB: 12/25/2003

Rin Tin Tins Lady Star lives up to her name, especially in the eyes of her handler and owner, 14-year-old Zara Varone Chenard. Star is a seizure alert dog who brought a whole new independence to Zara.

Star exhibited potential for scent work as a young puppy, while still with her breeder. At 8 weeks old, she stood out in the litter and was selected for further testing, for temperament and trainability for Service Dog work through A Rinty For Kids Foundation (ARFkids).

Once the testing was complete, Star was chosen to work for Zara as a Seizure Alert Dog. It did not take long for Star to begin her new role. On the trip home to Florida from the Rin Tin Tin Kennel and ARFkids facility in Texas, Star began responding to a pending seizure. Zara’s mother noticed Star exhibiting an unusual behavior just prior to the seizure.

Part of the training for a seizure alert dog included Zara’s mother rewarding Star when she exhibited the behavior indicating a pending seizure. It took diligence, patience, persistence and many hours of training to shape Star’s natural behaviors into the other half of what is now a perfect working team. When Star senses that Zara is about to have a seizure, she knows to touch a nearby adult. Star usually alerts Zara about 30 minutes prior to the onset of a seizure.

Before Star became Zara’s partner, it was difficult for her to participate in activities that we may take for granted, such as going to school, to birthday parties, or other events with her friends. All that has changed since this exceptional German Shepherd became part of Zara’s life. Star has given Zara the same independence as any other girl her age.

With Star by her side, Zara began to excel academically and graduated sixth-grade with honors. She and Star also received 10 awards on stage before the entire school during graduation ceremonies. Star and Zara also achieved the AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate without any special assistance from adults or family members.

Zara is now in seventh-grade and Star has been even more valuable. The onset of adolescence has added new difficulties to Zara’s seizures and Star is working even harder to help her partner face the daily challenges of life. Star alerts Zara in plenty of time to prepare for an oncoming seizure. Doctors are trying to get Zara’s seizures under control with diet and medication.

            Daphne Hereford, one of Star’s breeders and the owner of Rin Tin Tin said that Lee Duncan, owner of Rin Tin Tin I-IV, helped children any time he could. “And it is an honor to continue that tradition," Hereford said.

            But Star does more than just detect seizures. Zara’s mother, Sandi, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Sandi believes that Star detected her breast cancer before the doctors. Star kept licking and touching Sandi where the doctors detected the cancer, she said.

            Seizure dogs are among the most highly-trained of all service dogs. Unlike many other categories of service dogs that respond to commands given by the handler, a seizure dog has to be able to complete tasks without being given a command, when an individual has a seizure. It takes a extraordinary dog to work without immediate guidance and commands from its master.

Photo courtesy Zara Varone Chenard Zara and Star dressed for Halloween.

            The role of a seizure dog is uniquely tailored to the individual and can be broken down into two categories: First, the dog learns to sense when an individual is about to have a seizure. The dog then reacts by alerting the person in some fashion. Often, the person is then able to get to a safe place before the seizure occurs. In the second category, the dog responds when the seizure occurs. But in this case, the dog may be taught to brace the person from falling; lie across a person to keep them safe; push medical alert buttons; or alert another person for help. After a seizure has occurred, the individual is often disorientated, confused and fatigued. The presence of the seizure dog can help in recovering from the seizure by providing comfort and consistency.

            Star is indeed a tribute to the versatility of the German Shepherd Dog. She works day and night to provide independence to a special young lady and her family. Star will be nominated for the American Kennel Club’s 2008 ACE Award, given each year to special dogs in the performance of their duties.

            We continue to celebrate the year by acknowledging Star and all the other seizure dogs, working behind the scenes for their special partner.