Few pet-owner relationships are as heartwarming as those between a seeing eye dog and his master. Recently, the Today Show on NBC reported the same kind of dog-helping-human companionship for food allergic children.

Peanut-sniffing dogs are trained to sniff for peanuts and other food allergens in much the same way that bomb or drug-sniffing dogs search for those items. If they find the offending allergen, they signal their owners by a change in behavior like excessive sniffing or tail-wagging.

Peanut-sniffing dogs have the same privileges as seeing eye dogs, and may be taken into restaurants, malls, schools, and the like. For families of children who have life-threatening food allergies, these dogs offer a chance at a more normal life.

Sherry Mers founded the Angel Service Dog Network after a peanut-sniffing dog changed the life of her peanut allergic daughter. Riley, Ms. Mers