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FORT WALTON BEACH — Liza Jackson Preparatory School will welcome Marley the service dog into its ranks on Jan. 4.
The 8-month-old yellow Labrador retriever belongs to Liza Jackson fourth-grader Lexi Crouch, a Type 1 diabetic. Lexi has hypoglycemia unawareness, which means she doesn’t realize when her blood sugar drops. Marley alerts when Lexi’s blood sugar drops.
Lexi’s mother, Amber Crouch, began introducing Marley to the student body this week.
“I’m basically going to give them a heads-up about what Marley does, what her job is and what an alert sounds like,” Crouch said.
From the age of six weeks, the dog was trained on the scent Lexi’s body emits when her blood sugar is dangerously low. Marley often detects her low blood sugar 20 minutes ahead of an electronic meter.
“Their bond will be even stronger when they don’t have to be separated for the day any longer,” Crouch said. “Lexi is very excited. She can’t wait.”
Liza Jackson Principal Mary Gunter said Marley was present Friday at three middle school assemblies.
“We’re trying to get across to them how important it is to just ignore (Marley),” she said. “We’re going to let the students pet the dog and then that’s the last time.”
The school will introduce Marley to kindergarten through fifth-grade students Dec. 10.
A parent information session will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at the school.
The school has sent notices home with students explaining Marley’s presence and that Lexi’s right to have her at school is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Crouch, along with Lexi and Marley, met with the school faculty last week.
“As a matter of fact, Marley alerted during the meeting,” Crouch said. “Lexi was low.”
She said she expects to transition Marley to full-time attendance over a 5-week period.
“Each week we will add a day,” Crouch said.
Marley will attend all of Lexi’s classes including physical education.
“Everywhere Lexi goes, Marley will go,” Crouch said.
Lexi will be able to take Marley outside to relieve herself in a fenced area on the side of the school building. The fencing was donated and installed by Shalimar Fence.
Crouch said she is pleased with how accommodating the school has been.
“The whole reason we got Marley is that I can’t be with (Lexi) 24 hours a day, and neither can a nurse,” she said. “Even if Marley just gets 80 percent of Lexi’s lows, we’re still ahead of the game.”
