From Uncertainty to Hope:
Tamera and Her Lifesaving Dog
In 2015, EMT Tamera Mason was living life at full strength—healthy, active, and committed to serving her Virginia community. But in an instant, everything changed. A single sting from a yellow jacket triggered a rare and devastating autoimmune response that would alter her life forever.
With no prior warning, Tamera found herself facing multiple life-threatening conditions, including adrenal failure and dangerous drops in blood sugar. Her once-stable life became unpredictable. Medical emergencies struck without notice, sending her to the ER time and time again. Every day became a waiting game—would today be the day her body failed her again?
In 2018, hope arrived on four legs.
That hope was Irene—a yellow Labrador trained to be a medical alert service dog. With her calm presence and sharp instincts, Irene brought safety, stability, and a renewed sense of freedom back into Tamera’s life.
Irene is more than a service dog—she’s a guardian. She detects dangerous drops in blood sugar before Tamera can feel them. She retrieves lifesaving medication. She alerts to signs of crisis. And she does it all with unwavering devotion.
One night, while Tamera was sound asleep, her adrenal pump silently failed. Without needing a single cue, Irene jumped into action—retrieving the emergency rescue kit and waking her up just in time to prevent a deadly crisis.
On another occasion, Tamera was walking alone on a school campus when she was stung multiple times by yellow jackets. She collapsed, unconscious. When she awoke, Irene was by her side, nudging her awake. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Irene dragged Tamera to her car—allowing her to reach emergency medication and call for help. This act of loyalty and intelligence went far beyond training. It was the purest expression of partnership and love.
Today, Irene is Tamera’s constant companion, fierce protector, and best friend. Their bond is a testament to the life-changing power of service dogs—and to what’s possible when skilled training meets deep human connection.
At Service Dogs of Virginia, we are proud to provide highly trained medical alert dogs like Irene at no cost to the people who need them most. Tamera’s story is one of many—and with your support, we can help write the next one
