February 11, 2008

SECAUCUS, N.J. - A South Jersey woman says she was emotionally scarred a few years ago by a traumatic event. She spiraled afterwards, hardly able to leave her home. But today, with the help of a rare French breed canine, she's found a new purpose for her life.

“I was a victim of a violent crime and I wasn’t leaving my house at all,” says Lorraine Garaguso.

The South Jersey resident was sexually attacked and almost left for dead in a wooded area a few years ago. The event crippled her psychologically, she says.

One of the effects of the trauma was rapid onset agoraphobia.

“I didn’t go anywhere,” Garaguso said, “My therapist said, ‘Now you’re not leaving your house and soon you won’t be leaving your room.’ She explained to me what agoraphobia was.”

The new behavior was foreign to Garaguso. A once outgoing person, she worked as an occupational therapist for traumatic brain injury victims. But following the attack, she lost touch with who she once was.

That’s because her attacker was a patient – someone for whom she once provided healing.

“I haven’t worked in that field for 5 years,” she explained.

Her experience was debilitating. Lost, confused, and afraid to leave her home, Garaguso knew something had to change. But nothing was helping and the situation seemed to be deteriorating by the day.

Just when the agoraphobia seemed to be at its worst, the answer came - and it had four legs.

A friend recommended she adopt a dog named Po, a Great Pyrnees whose size might help her feel safe again. Po was a year-and-half old when he came into Garaguso's life in 2004.

Aside from protection, her hope was that companionship would give her something to focus on - that caring for an animal might break through the psychological barrier.

Slowly, it did just that.

Garaguso says at first things were difficult. But she had to walk the dog, buy him food and take him to the vet. Staying inside just wasn't an option.

Soon, the walks got longer – and she began to think about getting back into therapy.

Today, through working with the dog, the pair has become an asset to their South Jersey community. Garaguso says she trained Poe to be a therapy dog – which has allowed her to get back into the field she once loved.

“Po is a licensed and registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. He visits a lot of different facilities,” she said.

In 2006, about 15,000 dogs and almost 13,000 handlers were registered with TDI. Therapy dogs work in all 50 states, providing comfort and joy to patients with any number of issues – including traumatic brain injuries.

Po makes his rounds at the Plus Neuro Rehabilitation Center about once a month. And believe it or not, he only needs another 150 visits left before his next therapy dog accreditation.

Garaguso says he not only brings the patients a lot of joy, but he’s completely changed her life.

“Since Poe has been coming to us for the last 2 years, I have seen him bring so much joy to our clients,” said PNRC Director Donna Shuttie

“I’m a K-9 addict,” explained brain injury patient Ty Shaner, “I really love dogs, and having Poe here is very soothing. It’s very exciting - I love it.”

Garaguso feels even though she actually rescued Poe, he freed her from mental anguish that enveloped her following the attack so many years ago.

“I’ve come a long way since I got Poe,” she said.

For more information on therapy dogs, check out TDI-DOG.org .

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