Always there, always wagging

Always There, Always Wagging

"Doggy devotion or mere canine instinct? Either way, Kozlowski truly believes that the cocker spaniel was sent from heaven to be her soulmate for life. That counts for a lot. "

By GLENN GRAMIGNA
10/06/02

What thoughts go through the mind of a 58-year-old woman who has just been told that her once-dormant uterine cancer has come back with a vengeance? If it's Cheektowaga's Patricia Kozlowski, the answer is unexpected.

"My husband and children who were with me took it far worse than I did," says Kozlowski. "I had the confidence that I was going to get through this, and I'm sure that had a great deal to do with my 3-year-old little red cocker spaniel, Brandi."

"People think I'm crazy, but I feel she gives me that extra support system I need that makes me feel I'm going to be OK. Just the fact that she's always there waiting for me when I get home totally exhausted from my chemo, wagging her little tail and wanting to lick me, makes me think that everything is going to be all right."

To the uninitiated, Kozlowski's ardor may sound extreme. But it's also true that many professionals now acknowledge the important part a pet can play in a person's recovery from illness, particularly serious illnesses. Bev Underwood of Lockport's non-profit Canine Helpers for the Handicapped heartily agrees.

"We've placed over 300 dogs with physically challenged people over the past 19 years," says Underwood, "and I can tell you that having a pet can make a big difference. Not only does the dog give the person companionship and a source of unconditional love, it can also give an individual a sense of confidence. It's a feeling that they can get out and go places safely."

In Kozlowski's case, her dog's presence encourages and inspires her. When she and her husband, Kenneth, kneel down to pray at night, she swears that Brandi also bows her head. When Kozlowski goes to visit her parents' grave, the dog not only accompanies her, but leads the way to the hallowed site.

"At one point, when I was feeling really bad and needed to take walks, it was Brandi who would lead me around the house with little barks and nods so I would get my walking in," says Kozlowski. "People say, "Yeah, right.' when I tell them, but believe me, it really happened."

Doggy devotion or mere canine instinct? Either way, Kozlowski truly believes that the cocker spaniel was sent from heaven to be her soulmate for life. That counts for a lot.

"When they first found those cancerous polyps in my uterus three years ago, my first thought was, 'I want another dog,'" recalls Kozlowski. "Somehow with the help of my family, of course, and Brandi, I've gotten through everything including internal radiation, which was really rough. I take her with me everywhere, and somehow seeing her there next to me gives me confidence that I can do things and go places. She's like an extra-special gift from God to me to get me through the most difficult time in my life."

Kozlowski's aggressive treatment has provided some encouraging results. Her tumors, once "too numerous to count" have dwindled to three, according to her doctors. She hopes further tests will show that she is now cancer-free.

There are other true believers. For years, Edna Gaske, 84, of Bethel Estates in Hamburg watched her social life slip away due to a hearing impairment. Now, thanks to the gentle tapping of a small white poodle named Buddy, she believes that changed.

"I had become a virtual recluse because I just didn't feel comfortable going places without being able to hear," says Gaske. "When you can't hear anything, the world seems like a very scary place. Then I saw an exhibit at the Eastern Hills Mall about hearing ear dogs and that started everything."

Buddy, says Gaske, takes the place of her ears both at home and on the road. When her phone rings, Buddy is trained by Canine Helpers to tap Gaske's knee with his paw and then run to the phone. When the door bell rings, Buddy does his tapping routine before scampering toward the door.

"He does it even when I'm driving," says Gaske. "If we're on the road and an ambulance or police car has its siren on behind me, Buddy will tap me on the side so I know enough to get out of the way. He's just remarkable. When I see those miracle dogs on TV I always say, "He's my miracle!' "

As a result, Gaske reports that she now feels perfectly comfortable visiting family and friends, both outside Bethel Estates and on the grounds.

"This is another thing having a dog can do for people," says Underwood. "They're a great icebreaker. When you walk a dog, very often people will come up to you to pet the dog, and pretty soon a conversation has started and you are getting to know people."

This has certainly worked for Gaske.

"I was never comfortable taking walks without a dog," she admits. "But Buddy has opened up a lot of doors for me. You're not supposed to pet a working dog, but I let people pet him anyway. I've made a lot of friends I never would have met if it wasn't for him."

Not all such dogs work with one person at a time. In a large home in Lackawanna, two "full -time workers" wake up each morning, have their breakfasts, and prepare to go to their jobs at the Mercy Nursing Facility in South Buffalo. One is activities director Sharon Kysor. The other is an 8-year-old yellow Labrador retriever named Amber.

"When Amber gets to work at the start of the day, she immediately gets busy greeting the residents, licking their hands," says Kysor. "And they love it. They know her by name, and she seems to love them as much as they love her. Later on we will go through the rooms, and Amber will stick her nose up to be petted by the patients who are in bed."

While a little playful licking and petting may not seem like much, it means a lot to patients struggling with Alzheimer's and dementia.

"Even our most confused patients will smile and put their hands out to pet her when they see Amber," says Kysor. "No matter how confused a person is, they will remember how to pet a dog. They will follow her with their eyes or watch her eat a biscuit they've given her. Amber has these big, brown compassionate eyes that seem to be able to reach just about anyone."

Kysor remembers one woman no one but Amber seemed to be able to reach.

"This was one woman who had just taken up residence in our facility who seemed very sad and unresponsive," says Kysor. "It turned out that she had had a Labrador retriever who had died. So when she saw our dog, her whole attitude had changed. She was able to adjust to her new environment for the first time because now she had her dog back again."

Of course, no dog, even a highly trained one like Amber, can replace medical care, and the love and support of a good family. Nevertheless, many believe pets can play a role in a physically challenged person's road to health and a better quality of life.

Betty Hughes is just one more. Hughes, 68, of Lancaster is certain her 6-year-old German shepherd/husky, Max, has helped her survive the loss of her husband, along with her open-heart surgery and two heart attacks.

"He's a person to me, not a dog," says Hughes. "I would never get rid of him, even though he's chewed up just about everything in the house. He's with me till the day I die."

Glenn Gramigna is a frequent contributor to First Sunday's Seniors pages. He still has fond memories of the miniature collie named Lassie who got him through his childhood.

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