For Canadians living with intractable epilepsy, everyday activities can carry unexpected risks. Since being paired with Jensen just eight months ago, Alex’s life has changed dramatically. Jensen, trained specifically as a Seizure Response Dog Guide, performs life-saving tasks such as alerting others for help, fetching a medical kit or phone, and providing comfort during recovery—all while helping Alex feel safe and empowered.
“Jensen makes a difference in my life in the way he takes care of me and makes me feel safer,” Alex shares. “He allows me to be more independent.”
Now, Alex can spend time with friends and move about on his own without constant support. “A world without Jensen would feel dangerous for me to walk around alone,” he says. “I would constantly worry about what could happen.”
Jensen is more than a helper—he is a partner, a companion, and a source of confidence. Together, they demonstrate how a Dog Guide can turn fear into independence, enabling Canadians living with epilepsy to live life on their own terms.
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides and Epilepsy South Central Ontario
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is proud to partner with Epilepsy South Central Ontario and epilepsy organizations across the country to improve awareness and access to Seizure Response Dogs (SRDs). The collaboration began by updating epilepsy agency websites nationwide to provide accurate, consistent information about the Seizure Response program. Since then, the team has presented to the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance board and delivered educational sessions for the public, including SRD 101 virtual sessions with Epilepsy Alliance Maritimes and the Epilepsy Association of Calgary, as well as an in-person presentation at the Epilepsy South Central Ontario Family & Youth Conference on September 20, 2025.
Together, we are working to build understanding, confidence, and pathways to greater independence for people living with epilepsy.
“Partnering with Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides has allowed our clients to have up-to-date information when inquiring about applying for a Dog Guide. We can now work in tandem with the Lions Foundation, who are a lifeline giving people with epilepsy who qualify an opportunity to have a safer quality of life, thanks to receiving the best friend anyone could ask for…a dog,” says David Charchalis, CEO of Epilepsy South Central Ontario.
About Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is a national charity that empowers Canadians with disabilities to navigate the world with greater confidence, safety, and independence. The organization trains and matches Dog Guides in seven specialized programs, providing each Dog Guide team at no cost to Canadians. For more information, visit www.dogguides.com.
