Dogs are special pets to so many - none more special, though, than one delivered to a girl in Treasure Island.



There’s nothing like meeting a new pet for the first time. Especially when you know she can do something no one else can.



That something is the most important thing in one little Treasure Island girl’s life.



“I mean, she’s going to keep me alive,” said 8-year-old Samantha Singh.



Bay News 9 was there Sunday for the special delivery.



Samantha Singh has juvenile diabetes, and her new dog Kali is trained to sense when her blood sugar is too high or too low.



“Very overwhelming, I’m very excited for her, very happy to have another tool to help us with her diabetes and feel a little more relaxed someone else will be there to look after my daughter,” said Joyce Singh, Samantha’s mother.



Kali didn’t come easy. She cost $25,000.



The Singhs raised money for a while until St. Petersburg financier and philanthropist Bill Edwards gave them a $17,000 donation.



“You can’t say 'thank you' in words; words can’t say that it’s amazing," Samantha said. "He doesn’t even know me. He’s like a total stranger. It's awesome."

From now, on Kali will be by Sammie’s side.



Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers in Virginia will send a trainer to Treasure Island every few months for a couple years to make sure Kali’s fully trained.



“I absolutely love my job," said Erin Coulter, who works with Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers. "I mean, this is what keeps me doing it every day and being away from home. I absolutely love it."



Sammie has her dog, but her family isn’t done with this effort.



They are trying to raise money to pay it forward and help another child receive their dog.



The dogs are eventually trained to detect blood sugar levels, retrieve food and medication, and even call 911 on a special device.



