DENVER -- May 8, 2008

NEWS FLASH!

Not all service dogs look like me!

Now, maybe you already knew this but it came as a surprise to me. I've only met other CCI dogs and we're all Labradors, Golden Retrievers, or Lab/Golden crosses, like me. But Marianne recently met a woman named Diane Dike and her tee-tiny Italian Greyhound named Gracie. I just had to know more!

PARKER: How did you and Gracie find each other?

DIANE: I rescued Gracie when no one wanted her from a local animal hospital. She had two broken legs, a ripped-off tail, broken ribs and a cold. They were not sure if she would ever heal and be able to walk again or if she would have complications from being without oxygen.

PARKER: OW OW OW! It makes me hurt to think about that. Had you been planning to adopt a dog?

DIANE: No, but one day out of the blue I said a prayer. After I was done I thought, "Where did that come from? I can't even take care of myself never mind a dog," and pulled the covers over my head and forgot about it. But then two days later I got the call that would change my life forever.

PARKER: How did Gracie become your service dog?

DIANE: When I brought Gracie home the vet warned me not to leave her alone because she could re-injure herself or chew off her casts. To keep her safe, I trained Gracie to stay in a Snugli attached to my chest. One day I realized she was actually helping me.

PARKER: What did she do?

DIANE: I have several health challenges, including a blood disease called cryoglobulinemia, a rare and life-threatening blood clotting problem. It is worse in the cold so the first line of treatment is staying warm. I realized that when Gracie was in the Snugli she was creating life-saving heat that helped keep my blood circulating.

PARKER: Wow, that's amazing! What else does she do for you?

DIANE: Besides enhancing my blood circulation by staying in the Snugli, Gracie can alert me to changes in my internal chemistry and warn me up to forty minutes before I even know that I am in danger. When I can't walk because of the joint locking or other MS-like features of this disease she can retrieve items for me.

PARKER: How does Gracie let you know you're in trouble?

DIANE: Gracie alerts me by first giving me what I call "The Look" that says "Mom, we are in trouble," and then she begins to lick me intensely. She will escalate to whining, and if I still do not listen she will bark. If she is in the Snugli I generally get the message quickly and sit down or eat something, whichever the case may be. If she is heeling to my side and senses trouble she will stop, give me "The Look" and turn toward home or the car. If I don't listen she will tug my pant leg and pull me. If that doesn't work she will escalate her alert to a determined bark!

PARKER: It sounds like you have a good communication system worked out.

DIANE: Yes, we have a very intense bond.

PARKER: Have you met any other “Iggie” service dogs?

DIANE: No, but someone sent me an e-mail saying she had an Italian Greyhound service dog. However, as far as I know we are the only team like us in the world: an Italian Greyhound helping a woman with a rare, incurable blood disease. However, it's not unusual to see other toy breeds being used as service dogs, particularly for hearing or medical alert dogs.

PARKER: Marianne said that even though she knows service dog etiquette, she practically had to sit on her hands to keep from petting Gracie because she's so adorable. I love being petted! Why is it so important that people get permission to pet service dogs?

DIANE: There are lots of reasons, but the most important is that the communication between the dog and the person is interrupted and the dog is distracted from its job. There may be other issues, too. In my case, my immune system is compromised so I have to be careful of exposure to germs and that includes people petting Gracie.

PARKER: Gee, I never thought of that.

DIANE: Plus, I have a regular life with work and errands, just like everyone else. I love talking about Gracie, but it can be exhausting to stop and talk to everyone who wants to ask about us. It can take up my whole day.

PARKER: Yeah, the puppy raisers say "If you want to spend less than an hour at the grocery store, leave the puppy at home." And you know, sometimes even I get tired of being petted. Say, what’s Gracie's personality like? Is she different at home vs. when she's on duty in public?

DIANE: Gracie is always sweet, loyal, comforting, attentive, and reliable. When she is enjoying play time she is like any other dog: a rascal and full of fun. When she is on duty she is a completely different dog--all business and focused.

PARKER: I like the rascal part! Does Gracie have pals to play with?

DIANE: One of her best friends is Sabrina, the cat. She also has a great time with a couple of teddy bear hamsters. She plays chase with some of the birds that hang out around the house, and tumbles about with her two dachshund boyfriends. She finds it irresistible to run like the wind with her Italian Greyhound friends. Big or small she loves them all.

PARKER: I want to meet you and Gracie! When can I do that?

DIANE: Funny you should ask! We will be at the Petco in Golden at 17132 W. Colfax Ave. on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. autographing our book "Gracie Comes Home." There will also be 30 animal rescue organizations there with all kinds of adoptable pets, including a pot-bellied pig. I heard there might even be a camel.

PARKER: Oooh, we will be there for sure! I loved your book. The illustrations were hilarious, and the story was wonderful. I'll ask Marianne to get me my very own copy while we're there. Maybe she'll take our picture together, too. When is your next Gracie book due out?

DIANE: We are at the mercy of the illustrator. We hope it will be no later than fall of this year.

PARKER: I leave for Canine Companions for Independence College in August. Gracie, what advice do you have for me as I learn more about becoming a service dog?

GRACIE: Enjoy yourself. Have fun with it. It's an honor and a very important job. For me it is my calling and I'm so stoked to do my job each day.

PARKER: Good advice! Any last words from you two?

DIANE: Thank you for helping to educate people about various types of service dogs. It is so important for those who may need the help a service dog can provide, and for those of us who have one.

GRACIE: WOOF!

See you Saturday. Chow for now!

Parker

For more information on Diane and Gracie go to www.dianedike.com.

For more information on Canine Companions for Independence, go to www.cci.org.