An Extraordinary Partnership

A diabetic alert dog gives Bexley Crouch the freedom to be a kid
By Brandon Shoemaker

photo by shane darby.

Four-year-old Bexley Crouch is growing up with a guardian angel—one who happens to have four legs, a wagging tail, and a nose powerful enough to outmatch medical technology. His name is Harvey, and he is a loveable golden retriever who works as a diabetic alert dog. He is her safety net, medical partner, shadow, and of course, best friend.

Bexley was just a 1.5 years old when her mother, Christina, knew something wasn’t right. “I could just feel that something more was wrong,” she recalled. Bexley was guzzling juice and water, overflowing her diapers, and seemed unshakably tired. “I remember one day she was playing and then just fell over, fast asleep,” Christina said. Doctors at first chalked the symptoms up to ordinary toddler behavior, but Christina instinctively knew something more was at play.

Christina took Bexley to the doctor repeatedly, with no improvement in her symptoms. After voicing her suspicions multiple times, she finally took matters into her own hands. “I kind of demanded. I told them, ‘Just check her blood sugar.’” Her instincts were precisely right: with a reading of over 400mg/dL, Bexley was falling into diabetic ketoacidosis, an emergency complication of diabetes that can lead to death. Since her condition was so dire, Cook Children’s Medical Center transported her and her mother via private jet to their main campus in Fort Worth, where they were able to stabilize Bexley.

After the fog of adrenaline settled, Christina finally had a definitive diagnosis for her daughter. Bexley had Type 1 diabetes, a lifelong autoimmune condition that requires constant monitoring and immediate action when blood sugar veers too high or too low. That diagnosis began a new chapter in the Crouch family’s life—one marked by finger pricks, glucose monitors, unexpected alarms, and a lingering fear that a sudden drop or spike could turn dangerous in an instant.

Managing Type 1 is a round-the-clock job, and for a toddler, it can be especially overwhelming. Enter Harvey.

A Nose That Doesn’t Quit

Harvey’s superpower is his sense of smell. Trained by Bowen Elite Service Dogs of Idaho to detect the subtle chemical changes in the body when blood sugar shifts, he alerts Christina with precision and persistence. Sometimes he nudges her hand with his nose; other times, he jumps into her lap with his front paws to make sure she cannot ignore him. In fact, during their interview for this story, Harvey jumped up into Christina’s lap while Bexley sat across from her, alerting a drop in Bexley’s glucose level. After a quick finger prick, her monitor confirmed what Harvey had already detected. 

This was no fluke. Often, Harvey signals a change in Bexley’s levels before monitors and devices catch it. For the Crouch family, that’s not just impressive; it’s lifesaving. Harvey is especially vital in moments when technology falters or just isn’t possible, like at bath time. Bexley’s continuous glucose monitor does not work in water, and her insulin pump has to be removed, as it is not waterproof. That used to leave her vulnerable. Now, Harvey sits nearby, nose working overtime, alerting Christina if trouble is brewing. “Pool time used to be pretty scary,” Christina said. “But now, Harvey can alert me if anything is wrong.”

Bexley with her family. photo by shane darby.

More Than a Working Dog

Still, Harvey is not just a medical tool; he is woven into the fabric of Bexley’s childhood. She dresses him up so they can match outfits, strokes his snout gently to show her affection, and loves to play hide and seek with him. “Harvey loves kids, so we knew a family with littles would be the perfect fit,” said Stephanie Bowen of Bowen Elite Service Dogs. She has been training service dogs for almost six years, so she knew just how to recognize the right dog for Bexley. The bond between the two is equal parts tender and practical: he guards her health, and she gives him unconditional love.

During their interview, the connection was impossible to miss. Bexley, proudly holding up four fingers to show her age, grinned as Harvey sat close by, attentive to her every move. If it weren’t for Harvey’s service animal harness (albeit adorned with strawberries to suit Bexley’s style), an observer would assume this was any typical girl and her dog. But theirs is an extraordinary partnership—one that turns a frightening medical diagnosis into something manageable.

Harvey and Bexley on her first day of dance. submitted photo.

Training Never Ends

Like any working professional, Harvey faces challenges of his own. On a family trip to the mountains of Tennessee, a booming storm overhead rattled him badly. The loud thunder left him afraid during storms, but Christina wasn’t worried. Bowen Elite’s motto is “trainers for life,” and Stephanie has already stepped in to help him regain confidence. She came to town recently for a few days for some additional training, specifically targeting Harvey’s fears, to which he has already shown significant progress. “They don’t just hand you a dog and disappear,” Christina said. “They’re with us every step of the way.”

That support ensures Harvey remains reliable even as life throws curveballs. It also reassures Christina that she has a network behind her, something families managing chronic conditions rarely take for granted.

The Bowen family (Bowen Elite Service Dogs) has their own diabetic alert dog, Milo, for their daughter. submitted photo.

Sharing Their Story

The Crouches are determined to use Bexley and Harvey’s story to educate others. Recently, Christina and Harvey visited the Texarkana College Nursing Program, where they introduced future nurses to the world of diabetic alert dogs. Students witnessed firsthand how Harvey detects blood sugar changes and how his alerts can fill gaps that even advanced medical devices leave open. “With everything we’ve gone through, if we can help others and raise awareness by sharing our experience, that’ll mean a lot,” Christina said. 

The visit highlighted an important reality: living with Type 1 diabetes is about more than numbers and machines. It’s about finding solutions that let families breathe easier, children play safer, and parents sleep more soundly.

But as transformative as Harvey is, the journey hasn’t come without sacrifice. Training and placing a diabetic alert dog can cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to Stephanie, a dog like Harvey can cost anywhere between $25,000 and $35,000. On their website, Bowen Elite recommends that families and individuals consider fundraising options to help offset these expenses. Christina hopes that, by sharing their story, people will see not only the critical role service dogs play but also the financial realities families face in securing them.

Harvey caught a low blood sugar scent while Bexley was swimming! submitted photo.

A Childhood Reclaimed

For Bexley, Harvey is equal parts protector, playmate, and dress-up partner. For Christina, he represents peace of mind in a world of constant vigilance. “It’s like I can finally take a breath,” she said. The fear that once hovered over every moment has softened, replaced by trust in Harvey’s watchful presence.

Most importantly, Harvey makes it possible for Bexley simply to be a child. Whether she’s splashing in the bath, playing hide and seek, or snuggling with her best buddy, Harvey is right there to ensure that her life isn’t defined by her diagnosis but by the joy of living it. And for a little girl who just wants to be a kid, that is the greatest gift of all.