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Cindi Lashinsky's roommate Cubby sleeps on the floor and snarfs up dog kibble. He's a male Labrador retriever trained as a service dog. Lashinky, who suffers from a neurological disorder, credits Cubby with helping her maintain her balance on stairs and increasing her independence and mobility on the University Park campus. For the full story, check live.psu.edu/story/8636
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Cubby gets an exercise and play period every day in the residence hall commons, but when Lashinsky puts on the harness and leash, Cubby knows it's time to go to work.
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Cubby rides the elevator along with his owner. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides service dogs and their owners with access to all public places.
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Cubby gets a little down time to lounge on his bed with his toys. In addition to "sit," "stay" and "under," which means Cubby plants himself under a desk or table, the dog is trained to brace himself to help Lashinsky get up if she falls; to get help by barking on command; to get her medication; to help her climb stairs by taking one step and stopping while Lashinsky braces herself against him and hangs onto his harness; to get her attention by pressing his front end into her lap; and to retrieve the phone.
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Lashinsky got Cubby through the auspices of Susquehanna Service Dogs, which is under the umbrella of Keystone Human Services, a group of nonprofit agencies.
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Cubby assists Lashinsky in navigating a set of stairs.
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The dog takes part in even the mundane parts of Lashinsky's student life. That includes getting the mail.
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Going up the stairs can be tricky. The dog is trained to take one step, stop and allow Lashinsky to brace herself with his harness handle.
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Cubby can look but he can't touch when Lashinsky fills her plate in the dining hall commons. The dog is fed twice a day and weighs 66 pounds. During the training and accreditation period, one of the exercises was taking Cubby to a huge discount store and dropping french fries in front of his nose to see if he would be distracted. Cubby passed with flying colors, Lashinsky said.
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Cubby keeps watch from under a dining hall table.
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Cubby is Lashinsky's shadow. He parks under her table in the residence hall commons while she eats with friends. "Whenever we go anywhere, he goes along," said junior Shannon Kentis, a biology major, left. "He's one of the gang. He's like Scooby in the Scooby Gang."
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While Lashinsky prepares for a class, Cubby settles in at her feet.
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While Lashinsky looks at her notes, Cubby takes a quick snooze.
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It's another day of classes for the senior who is majoring in psychology. Lashinsky (and Cubby) plan to graduate in May.
