Fundraisers planned for DeRuyter teen in need of diabetic alert dog

DERUYTER, N.Y. – A Cortland County teen who suffers from Type 1 Diabetes is seeking $18,000 to cover the cost of purchasing a Diabetic Alert Dog.

Scott Arnold, a recent graduate of DeRuyter High School, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and hypoglycemia unawareness three years ago.

Arnold plans to attend the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in the fall and live on campus.

gracie

The family is applying to purchase Gracie, a Diabetic Alert Dog from Dog Works Service Dogs in Rochester, who is fully trained and prepared to go to school with Scott in August, the family says (photo provided)

For Arnold, having an alert dog while attending college could prove to be a life-saving measure.

"One night recently I was sleeping through a low blood sugar, and when she was finally able to wake me up, we found out my blood sugar was only 20 mg/dl, which is to say very dangerous," Arnold wrote on his GoFundMe page. "We shudder to think what would have happened if neither of us woke up in time."

He and his family are looking to raise $18,000 to purchase an alert dog. So far, they've raised $2,300, according to his fundraising page.

A dog wash fundraiser will be held on Sunday, July 19 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at CountryMax on Route 13 in Cortland.

More fundraisers have been planned, including a golf tournament at the Hill N Dale Country Club on Sunday, Aug. 2.


 

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