CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — A dog left abandoned, then trained by prisoners, is now helping a Southeast Missouri State University student deal with an often-debilitating disorder.
The Southeast Missourian (http://bit.ly/23JZmtT) reports that 19-year-old Marissa New suffers from sensory processing disorder, which hinders her ability to properly organize appropriate responses to sensory signals.
People with disorder can have varying challenges, such as hyper- or hyposensitivity to certain stimuli. Marissa is affected by sensory overload, a condition that occurs when the body's senses becomes overwhelmed or overstimulated.
"Your sensory system is out of sync, basically, so things are intensified -- touch, smell, taste, everything. Everything is intensified," she said.
Sound affects her the most, and the overload can result in migraines and "shutdowns," where her vision becomes blurred, her hearing is muffled and communication becomes difficult.
She decided to apply for a service animal. In October, she welcomed Creed, a 2-year-old mixed breed and a graduate of the Missouri Department of Corrections' Puppies for Parole program. In the program, rescue dogs are paired with inmates at several Missouri prisons, who spend months training and socializing the dogs to make them suitable for adoption.
Many of the dogs get even further training, allowing them to serve as therapy dogs that visit hospitals, schools or nursing homes, mobility dogs for those in wheelchairs, or service dogs for children with autism or people like Marissa who have needs that a dog can help.
"He's my hero," she said of Creed.
She has taught Creed several ways to help mitigate her disabilities.
"It took me about a month and a half to train him with all of the tasks," she said. "He caught on really quickly and he's a very, very smart dog."
Creed now knows four tasks. He watches Marissa's back when people are behind her; he blocks strangers to keep them a certain distance from her; he applies deep pressure on her lap, chest or legs to help regulate her sensory system; and he stops unwanted anxious behaviors like fidgeting or scratching.
Creed also knows to look both ways when crossing a street — something Marissa may need help with if she is experiencing a shutdown; and he can sense a pending shutdown, then helps her get to a safe location to prevent falling.
The dog has helped her gain independence.
"Before I had him I was basically locked away in my dorm room all the time, and now I'm able to go out and do normal things," she said.
Marissa's twin sister, Lexi, also has a service dog, Izzy. The two were paired in 2013 after Izzy was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a neurological condition that affects the autonomic nervous system and causes migraines, an abnormally rapid heart rate and temporary losses of consciousness due to sudden decreases in blood pressure.
Izzy alerts Lexi to her changes in heart rate and when she might be at risk of passing out or fainting, then helps her retrieve a phone to call for help. The dog barks to alert others if Lexi passes out or needs help.
"Not only does she help me physically, but she helps me socially, as there are many nights that I can't hang out with my friends and she provides the companionship for when I am sick and by myself," Lexi said.