Do you think dogs can help people in need by training them? J'Lo, the Papillon, is going above and beyond to make sure the little boy is safe, and this heartwarming story proves her dedication. She is excellent at sensing Athan's diabetic needs and is just what the doctor ordered.

J’Lo, a three-pound papillon, a breed that derives its name from its characteristic butterfly-like look of the long and fringed hair on the ears, watches guard over a sixth-grader at Edgewood Middle School, and alerts the boy every time his diabetic blood sugar drops or rises to unsafe levels.

Athan Bunger, 12, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 5, and at first, his mother, Rachel Bunger, thought he had the flu.

Their lives were controlled by diabetes.

When Bunger was finishing up her bachelor’s degree at Miami University, she heard a presentation from 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia, an organization that trains service dogs.

In May, she was told that a dog was being trained as a diabetic alert dog, but something happened to the prospective owner.

J’Lo was available. Athan and the dog trained for six hours a day for 12 days, and they became a team.

She never leaves Athan’s side, whether he’s sleeping, attending class or playing soccer. Because of her intense training, and her nose — 1,000 times more sensitive than humans’ — J’Lo can detect the tiniest shifts in body chemistry that change his typical scent.

J’Lo, who is 2, probably will be with Athan for the next 10 years, meaning they could be together until he graduates from college.

J’Lo cost about $15,000, and so far the Bunger family has raised about $500. She said fundraising efforts are continuing, and they won’t stop even after 4 Paws for Ability has been reimbursed.

These service dogs not only improve lives, they save lives, she said.
And what can you do Jennifer Lopez?

J'Lo cost a lot of money, so the family is trying to do whatever they can to pay back the organization. We hope their funds continues to grow!

What an inspiring story about how a dog can help a little boy with a serious health condition. Diabetes was a scary situation for the family, but thanks to a little dog named J'Lo both the mother and Athan can go to sleep feeling better that the little pooch is there to help. Read more about this touching story on Journal – News.