Unconditional love: Medical alert dog true wingman Published Nov. 22, 2013 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Always within inches of Clifford Morey's side, an attentive pair of eyes keeps watch. Morey, a medical records system administrator in the 78th Medical Group, suffers anywhere from 10 to 15 seizures a week. "Baz," a 20-month-old German shepherd service dog, has the ability to detect and alert Morey of an impending seizure. "He picks up on something and then alerts me," said Morey, a former airborne mission systems specialist in the 12th Airborne Command & Control Squadron, Team JSTARS. An accident while he was in the service resulted in Morey losing the all the feeling in his left arm. His neurological condition was diagnosed in February. "What's happened now is that when my body has too much pain, it shuts down," he said. That, in turn, causes the 29-year-old to experience very painful seizures. Doctors recommended he look into service dogs that can provide assistance with quality of life. Baz, a rescue dog from Muscogee County Animal Control in Columbus, was referred to Morey through "Train A Dog Save a Warrior," a program that provides medical alert service dogs to wounded warriors. Once Baz slips on his vest, made from Morey's old flight suit and complete with an official MDG patch, he knows it's time for work. While they trained tirelessly over many months, Baz and Morey only became a team four months ago. Baz first came to the office on Oct. 10, and has not only received a caring and warm reception, but is regularly visited by Morey's colleagues. Baz is currently in more advanced stages of training, having already passed the AKC Canine Good Citizenship course. Although research shows these dogs can perhaps detect an oncoming seizure through smell, Baz has proven to be a constant source of comfort and support at just the right moments. "When I have a seizure, it's a really bad day from that point on because they hurt really bad," said Morey. "Somehow, through miracles, he picks up on them before I do." For example, one night at home Morey had been talking on the phone while standing up. His wife was at the other end of the house. "All of a sudden he looked over at me and barks," he recalled. "That was the only warning I had. He jumped up and pinned me against the wall and wouldn't let me hit the ground." Morey doesn't remember anything after that point, but credits situations like this where his 105-pound companion is always nearby. Before he had the dog, he could feel three to four minutes ahead of an oncoming seizure. With Baz, that time has increased to as much as 20 minutes. In the time he's had Baz, Morey has picked up on average about 95 percent of seizures experienced at home and at work. Because seizures can take so much out of him, having the dog alert him ahead of time has also helped him to recover faster. If he's walking, another way Baz alerts him is to take and mouth the back of his knee, meaning he should immediately find a place to sit down. When the vest comes off at home, Baz is like any other playful young puppy. He loves to eat his six cups of chow a day, receive hot dog treats, and just be a member of the family. But, because of his extensive training, he knows his work is nonstop, no matter where he is. "His primary goal in life is to get affection and to be told he's a 'good boy,'" said Morey. "He is always right beside me."