When you live with ALS
(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease), you work through a steady
stream of losses—in mobility, independence and privacy. Each person with
ALS (abbreviated PALS) finds a way to cope—with the help of The ALS Association,
specialty clinic staff, and family and friends. However, very few can cope the
way Kathy Hult does—with a service dog named Joy.
Though service dogs are increasingly used to assist people with other
disabilities, they are a rarity for PALS. One reason is that ALS, which
is degenerative and fatal, often progresses quickly. In just a few
years or even months, the disease can move through the body, killing
the motor neurons essential for limb movement, speech, swallowing and
ultimately breathing. My father died of ALS about three years after
his diagnosis.
Hult’s ALS is progressing more slowly. She was diagnosed in
February of 1999. Three years later, it became clear that she might
be a good candidate for a service dog. Another factor in her favor
was that ALS was not affecting her voice. This is critical as her dog
is trained to respond to voice commands. If ALS eventually affects
her voice to the point where verbal commands are impossible, Hult feels
that her long relationship with Joy will make it possible for them
to carry on together. Joy knows Hult’s routine well and is
very tuned in to her.
Joy is Aptly Named
Before Hult
even applied for a service dog through Helping Paws in Hopkins, a
black lab – aptly named Joy – was in her
foster home. While there, Joy was being properly socialized and
doing her job of learning about 75 standard commands. For two years,
she attended a weekly class and had daily homework to complete
with her trainers. Joy proved she had the right stuff, both in
her temperament and physically, so in mid-2002 she was ready to
be paired with the right person.
Months after her application
and the subsequent screenings, Hult was introduced to various dogs.
Each time, the Helping Paws staff was watching carefully for a
good match. There are no forced placements; the match must be right
for the person and the dog. Hult, a lifelong dog lover, was looking
for a dog with spunk. When she first met Joy, she found the dog
a bit passive and even “boring,” even
though Joy performed all of her commands very well.
However, the three observing
instructors, with their combined years of experience, were sure
it was a match. In their eyes, Joy had instantly picked Hult and
showed it by performing nearly flawlessly. Hult became a believer
in the three months between their initial meeting and the day she
brought Joy home for good. Joy’s skills were fine-tuned
to Hult’s needs (an ongoing process), and they went through
a three-week class together before graduation. And, as one who has
seen Joy in action, the spunk is there.
The Difference a Dog Makes
In
many homes, the people serve the dog. Here it works the other way
around. Joy picks up things that Hult needs or has dropped. The dog
is also a “walking step stool” who can help Hult get
up off the floor (after a fall or otherwise). Joy can pull off
Hult’s
coat or socks and performs many other tasks. Joy even presses the
wall button to open the automatic door in Hult’s building
with flair.
When asked what else Joy brings to their life together, Hult has much
to say. Though Hult is very upbeat and outgoing, she says that Joy
is there when she needs a push to get out in the world. Joy also provides
the very important feeling of safety. If needed, Joy can seek assistance
for Hult, both at home and outside of the home. When the two recently
took an Alaskan cruise, Joy made going through airport security easier,
and also charmed everyone on the ship. Joy makes people smile and helps
people approach Hult in public. Hult feels that she and her dog are
ambassadors, helping people learn about ALS and service dogs. Most
importantly, Hult proclaims that Joy is her closest relationship, and
that they have a spiritual and emotional connection.
Challenges
With all of the
positives that Joy provides, Hult does worry about what would happen
if either she or Joy were to get sick or injured. Being proactive
by having an organized support network of friends ready to assist
addresses these issues. This network also helps exercise Joy, especially
during the winter. Finally, Hult is conscientious about cleaning
up after Joy outside, even when it requires some fancy wheelchair
maneuvers.
Still, the pluses far
outweigh the minuses. When attending Hult’s
ALS support group, attendees enjoy watching Joy as she monitors everything,
right down to the pizza that is brought in for lunch. And on that
Alaskan cruise, Joy was so popular on the ship that sometimes Hult
had take her and “hide” in their cabin to get a break.
Joy truly does scatter a hundred griefs. ![]()
Helping Paws recently placed
its second dog with a PALS. For more information, visit www.helpingpaws.org/
