A strange set of circumstances led southern California native Linda Zelik to train service dogs. After tragically losing her beloved 24-year-old son Kevin in an accident, Zelik was in such a deep depression that she did something completely out of character: She saw a psychic medium. She recalled the psychic telling her, “Kevin is sending you a puppy in a strange way and you’re not to say no because it’s for your healing—and he wants credit for it!”
Zelik hoped it was a false prediction, as she thought she wouldn’t be able to raise a puppy in her fragile emotional state. When no puppy magically appeared on her porch, she dismissed the premonition.
Fast forward a year and a half, when Zelik happened upon a book about a service dog that helped a veteran with severe PTSD live his life again. After reading it, she thought, “Maybe I could do that,” figuring that dogs wouldn’t mind her tears since she was still grieving her son.
The book listed an organization called Canine Companions, which enlists volunteers to help raise service dogs for people in need. Zelik applied, and she got accepted. Thus began her unique journey of healing.
Thinking back, her son had adored their family dogs his whole life. She added that, “Kevin went to college in Hawaii, … and on the weekends, he volunteered at a pet sanctuary where he bathed and walked the dogs and did anything that was needed.” Now, she would be working with the animals that Kevin had loved best.
The pups spend their first 18 months with their volunteer puppy raisers, who teach the dogs 30 basic skills, including sitting, walking on a loose leash, traveling in a car, and going into a crate or kennel. The pups are trained to adapt to different environments, such as inside restaurants, buses, and elevators.
“When they are ready, I take them everywhere I go,” Zelik said. “We go into malls, the supermarket, dentist, post offices, wherever.” After 18 months, they are returned to Canine Companions for advanced training with professional trainers. They learn specialized skills such as retrieving items, pulling wheelchairs, turning on lights, and alerting to sounds. After a dog goes through all the training and passes all the requirements to be a licensed service dog, it is worth $50,000, but as a nonprofit that runs on donations, Canine Companions is able to give the animals away free of charge.
The first dog Zelik trained was a Labrador-golden retriever mix named Florian with a heart-shaped fur pattern on her forehead. This unique trait confirmed for Zelik that the pup was a special gift from her son. The canine was paired with an 8-year-old girl named Avery with severe autism and anxiety spectrum disorder. Avery’s family later told Zelik how much the dog enhanced Avery’s life, allowing her to become calmer, especially in public. Florian knew how to lay across Avery’s body to help soothe her during anxiety attacks. With her help, Avery was able to attend school and eventually graduate from high school.
Zelik’s second pup, Hilani, was a pure white Labrador retriever. Upon learning that her Hawaiian name means “carried in the arms of heaven,” Zelik knew this pup was also connected with her son. He had just graduated from the University of Hawaii before his passing. After succeeding in training, Hilani went to a university police officer. She helps comfort victims of crime on a college campus.
Darby was given to a lady with severe rheumatoid arthritis, enabling her to live independently after losing her husband. Darby pulls the heavy refrigerator door open by a rope tied to its handle. She can also pull the laundry basket upstairs and carry folded laundry over her back.
Edie went to Liv, a 10-year-old girl with a severe congenital muscle disorder. With Edie’s loyal companionship, Liv can better endure painful medical procedures. Edie also helps Liv with everyday tasks like retrieving dropped items, getting clothes out of drawers, and putting dirty clothes into the hamper. Most importantly, Liv makes friends thanks to Edie’s presence, as many of her peers approach her to ask about her service dog.
While most Labradors love water, Edie does not. Since the only exercise Liv can do is swimming, Edie sits by the side of the pool, cheering her girl on with a big kiss whenever Liv comes to the edge.
Liv sent Zelik a letter, writing, “I want to thank you so much for raising Edie, the most magical creature I have ever met. I am so grateful that you gave us this dog so I can be an independent person. I am going to love this dog forever.”
Over the past 13 years of puppy raising, Zelik, now 78, has given her heart to the dogs, and they have blessed her life—just as they go on to bless the lives of those they serve. It affirms that out of her grief arose a new purpose and a new joy.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
