Barking buddies on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside work to sniff out overdoses

Peer workers on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside are using their dogs to spot overdoses as a way to combat the toxic drug crisis.

Lorna Bird supervises people using drugs at the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. A few years ago, she felt very lonely and decided to buy three-month old Joy.

“When I got her she did it within two days as soon as somebody went down she started barking,” Bird said about Joy.

Bird often uses oxygen or Narcan to reverse an overdose, she says Joy seemed to learn on her own when a person is overdosing. She barks, gets excited and nudges Bird when it’s happening.

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Joy also gave birth a few years ago, and Bird says her puppies are learning to help in their own way too.

“When she was born, she was the last one and she was worth it. I get seizures and it’s like she knows when I’m going to have a seizure or when I’m sick she knows. She could sense something’s wrong with mom.”

Retired dog groomer, Robyn Ashton says she was struggling with nauseating migraines, when she noticed her new puppy, Leilah was trying to tell her something.

“She can detect it five to seven minutes before it gets really bad. And she’ll start doing circles in front of me and try and poking me with her nose on my leg. To go and sit down somewhere. And if I feel it coming on, it comes on pretty quick. I can give myself a shot, and I’m sitting down in a safe place,” Ashton explained.

Working and service dogs of the Downtown Eastside: Lorna Bird and dog Joy at @VANDUpeople /Robyn Ashton and Leilah with matching pink hair. pic.twitter.com/21GbbYywhT

— Crystal Laderas (@CrisLaderas) May 5, 2022

The Dachshund-Pekinese mix has been a certified service dog for eight years, also helping with emotional support for her owner’s anxiety. Ashton says during a visit to the hospital, it was obvious the dog was also sensitive to the needs of others.

“She took off one day and ran into a room, and there was a gentleman in there all plugged up to machines and had a ventilator and everything on him. And she would just sitting at the bottom of the bed crying and we had to pick her up and physically take her out of there.”

There are a number of studies showing dogs can sniff out coming migraines, seizures, and even episodes of Parkinson’s disease. However, Dr. Stanley Coren of UBC’s Psychology department says there’s no research yet indicating dogs can detect drug overdoses.

Coren says it’s common for people having a seizure or drug overdose to lose coordination and control of their body and dogs are attuned to changes in breathing and potential chemical changes that can alter someone’s scent.

Bird believes if she hadn’t found Joy, she would probably be dead. She overdosed once, and it was Joy’s barking that alerted a friend in the other room.

“My health was really bad because I was lonesome. I didn’t have any desire to eat or anything like that so since I’ve had her I know I have to take her out for walks, things like that. I started getting exercise. So I think she saved my life, in more than one way.”