News

Welcome, Oscar

MAR 16, 2007

Peter Carnley Anglican Community School held a special ceremony on Wednesday to welcome Parmelia's Corey Charles and his diabetic-alert dog, Oscar.

The 11 year-old was forced to change schools after Calista Primary School refused to allow the dog on school grounds, and Corey's mother, Tracey Charles, appealed against the decision to the Education Department.

Mrs Charles received a call on Wednesday informing her that the department supported the school's decision not to allow Oscar to accompany Corey in the classroom. "The reason they gave me was because he was not a fully trained dog." she said.

"I'm fuming with the decision - it has created financial difficulties for us.

"But we're really happy at the new school; they have not made one negative comment."

Corey, who had Type 1 diabetes, was one of the first people in WA to receive an alert dog last month from the charity organisation Paws for Diabetics.

Mrs Charles said Oscar could detect and prevent a hypoglycaemic attack before Corey needed urgent medical attention.

Paws for Diabetics co-founder Lorraine Roulston said dogs used their senses to detect changes in the body. She said the organisation had a 100 per cent success rate.

Peter Carnley Anglican Community School principal Peter Martin said the assembly was held to introduce students to Oscar.

"We haven't had any problems, he's a lovely dog," he said.

The Education Department did not respond to the Weekend Courier before deadline.

Source: Weekend Courier