Nothing can light up someoneβs day quite like a dog. But canines can bring more than just joy. More than 10,000 people living in America use service dogs every year to help cope with their physical and mental conditions.
Casey Bruno β18 is one of those people.
Brunoβs 2-year-old dalmatian, Paisley, not only helps her deal with depression, but also has enhanced her social life and is a constant reminder of her lifeβs passion.
Originally from Tampa, Bruno, who graduated with a biology degree from ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ in August, says she had anxiety from a young age that turned into depression while she was in college. She heard that services dogs were helpful for treatment and the idea grew on her. Itβs now been two years since Bruno brought home Paisley, who was then only 8 weeks old.
βOne of the biggest things I tell people is that taking care of a dog helps you to take care of yourself.β
In that time, sheβs been able to complete most of Paisleyβs ADA-compliance training, gotten her accustomed to attending classes on campus and even brings her along on shifts at Banfield Pet Hospital, where Bruno works as a veterinary assistant. Through outings at dog parks and Memory Mall, Bruno has found it easier to meet people.
βBefore I knew it, I was making friends,β Bruno says. β[Paisley] helped me fulfill all of my wishes.β
Having Paisley by her side has also helped her to get off her anti-depressants.
βSheβs helped me so much. One of the biggest things I tell people is that taking care of a dog helps you to take care of yourself,β Bruno says. βWhen I was depressed, I wouldnβt want to do anything, but taking care of a dog, you have to take her out, you have to feed her. It got me out of the house and doing stuff.β
Top Dog
Last month, a post Bruno posted went viral, earning her a spot on several television news segments. The tweet featured a few photos of the two both wearing decorated grad caps. Brunoβs featured a paw print to represent Paisley, and Paisleyβs displayed Brunoβs hand.
βWhen I thought about my college experience, I thought about Paisley. I knew that I wanted my cap to have the paw print on since it goes with me being pre-vet, but then I thought it would be so cute if she had a cap with my hand print on it because her experience has been [all about] me,β Bruno says.
Animal Helper
She is now pursuing a masterβs degree in biomedical sciences and ultimately wants to become an animal neurologist. This interest is partly inspired by her uncle, who does that for a living, and partly by the live-action version of 101 Dalmatians.
βThey have a scene where they train a dalmatian to turn off the alarm in the morning, start the coffee and turn on the shower. More than the movie [being entertaining], I was like, βHow do they train the dog to do that?β So I got really into the breed,β Bruno says.
βYou canβt always see problems that people have. … A lot of people donβt realize the impact service dogs have on people.β
While many people find trained animals like service or emotional support dogs to be helpful, there are some who criticize the use of them, especially when a personβs disability isnβt visible. They may seem fine in public, but are struggling with issues behind closed doors. Or their symptoms can be sporadic and difficult for them to figure out on their own. But ultimately emotional support animals provide companionship and aid their owners in dealing with personal issues, while service dogs are specifically trained to perform tasks to help individuals with disabilities.
βYou canβt always see problems that people have,β Bruno says. βI used to get really bad panic attacks, but I have asthma so I didnβt know if I was having a panic or asthma attack. [Paisley] was always able to help me distinguish between it and helped me not have panic attacks anymore. A lot of people donβt realize the impact service dogs have on people.β
New Member of the Pack
While researching dalmatians, Bruno found the breed loves being trained and pleasing their owners, so when the time came for her to get a service dog two years ago, she knew this was the exact kind she wanted. Earlier this month, she stayed loyal to the breed when she picked up her second service dog, a now 9-week-old male dalmatian puppy named Chevron, from the same breeder as Paisley.
βHeβs actually a lot better than [Paisley] was as a puppy,β Bruno says. βHeβs more mellow. [My boyfriend and I] joke that he spends all his energy on growing.β
βItβs not just for me, other people love [service dogs] too.β
Paisley and Chevron were apprehensive of each other at first, but Bruno says theyβre inseparable now. Sheβs excited for the opportunity for Paisley to help teach her younger brother how to be a good service dog. She also sees this as a chance for Chevron to help tighten up his older sisterβs training. So far, Bruno and others are simply enjoying having a new puppy around.
βI brought him to lab for the first time just to get him used to being around people and the teacherβs assistant was like βIβm so happy. Iβve been so stressed. You just made my day.β So itβs not just for me, other people love [service dogs,] too,β Bruno says.
