Service Dog Heroically Saves Owner During Seizure At Grocery Store
Amber Laudicina was just trying to do a normal grocery run when her world turned sideways, and it happened fast.
At Harris Teeter in North Carolina, Amber was with Koda, her 11-month-old service dog in training, after years of unexpected seizures tied to brain damage from chemotherapy for a tumor she had in 2010. Even though Koda was still learning, he knew something was wrong, barked to get attention, and an employee who recognized them stepped in immediately to call emergency services.
What started as a routine aisle trip turned into a life-saving moment, and Koda stayed right there the whole time.
Amber Laudicina from North Carolina experiences unexpected seizures due to brain damage from chemotherapy treatment for a tumor she had in 2010.
Amber is at her local Harris Teeter supermarket, accompanied by Koda, her 11-month-old service dog in training.
Koda’s alarm bark is what finally snapped everyone into action, right as Amber’s body started going sluggish and unsteady.
The tricky part was that Koda was still on the leash and in training, yet he kept watch over Amber while the store staff moved fast.
Even though Koda was still in a learning phase, he sensed that something was wrong and raised an alarm with his bark. An observant employee who recognized them noticed Koda's alert behavior and swiftly called for emergency services.
Throughout this ordeal, Koda remained steadfast by Amber's side, keeping a watchful eye on her. While still in training and perhaps somewhat limited by his leash, Amber felt that Koda did an exceptional job under the circumstances.
It also echoes a kid with a disability and his mom, who pushed back so he could pet the wheelchair.
Amber started showing signs of an impending seizure—her body language became sluggish, and her movements unsteady. Koda reacted immediately
“He undoubtedly saved my life,” the woman said. “He prevented me from actually getting hurt and ending up in a hospital with a concussion or something worse… You can train and train for this, but you don’t know how far you’ve come until it actually happens.”
And unlike the usual pattern where employees step back and wait for EMTs, the assistant manager and others stayed involved, refusing to let the situation slide.
Additionally, Amber expressed her gratitude for the outstanding support from the supermarket employees, mentioning that they really went the extra mile to help out.
“Normally, employees don’t stay with me or offer much support. They usually just wait for the EMTs to arrive,” Amber explained. “[The staff] pulled out all the stops. For as long as I have had service dogs and as long as I have actually been sick, I have never experienced someone take on a situation like she [the store’s assistant manager] did.”
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Amber has created a GoFundMe campaign to collect funds as a way to show appreciation to the store's employee who helped save her life.
After Amber said Koda “undoubtedly saved my life,” she launched a GoFundMe to thank the Harris Teeter employee who helped her most.
It's not just about physical tasks, either.
That grocery store stop gave Amber a terrifying scare and a reminder that heroes can be small, furry, and still learning.
Keep the same “alert that saved the day” energy, watch how a doorbell camera dog stopped a house fire. Her frantic barks got noticed after the doorbell camera caught the danger.
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