When Gillian Lawrence commutes to work in the morning, she is accompanied to the office by a very special dog.

Quincy is a seizure assist dog, trained to get help when Gillian has a seizure.

She can even sense when Gillian is about to have an epileptic attack.

"If I've been standing up somewhere and if she starts to whine or bark or just keep making noise that would get me to sit down," said Lawrence, who suffers from Epilepsy.

For years, debilitating seizures made it impossible for Gillian to work and take part in many activities.

"They were all day everyday, maybe about sixty or seventy a day."

Now she works a full time job with Quincy always by her side.

When they are just puppies these dogs begin the specialized training to assist people with Epilepsy.

"Things like removing dangerous objects from around the person so once they're in their seizure they're not banging their head or body against something sharp or dangerous," said Shawn Laari of the B.C. Epilepsy Society.

"They can block access to a dangerous area like a stairwell," he said.

After a seizure, they can be a calming presence and give peace of mind.

"Family members don't have to be there every waking second to attend to their needs because the dog has proven itself to be equally if not a better predictor and protector of that family member," said Laari.

In the U.S. there are several organizations that train these dogs. But in Canada, there is just the Lions Foundation in Ontario.

"Like any charitable organization, there are cost limitations and that's what we're stuck with right now," said Laari. "It would be good if we could get a training dog organization in western Canada to do that."

Gillian says she hopes more dogs will be trained to help others like her.

"For me to get my life back, she's given me a job, she's helped me in regards to do public speaking, she helped me to start educating people."

The dog also provides Gillian with a unique friendship.

"It's just such a blessing to have her," she said.

For further information and a list of seizure dog contacts, please check the BC Epilepsy Society website, or call (604) 875-6704.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Dr. Rhonda Low.