Sharon & Lola: An umbrella to life’s biggest downpours
Story and photos by Mac Becco
Sharon Couet and her service dog, Lola, are an inspiring testament to the transformative bond between people and pets. They rescued each other from traumatic experiences and continue to provide meaning to a life that isn’t always easy or just. Their story reminds us that nobody is promised a life of rainbows and sunshine, but that love is a strong umbrella for life’s biggest downpours.
How did you and Lola find each other?
She was rescued by Wags & Whiskers Animal Rescue and I saw pictures of her wearing tutus online and just had to visit her. When my landlord took me to the foster home, Lola was really happy approaching everybody. But then, suddenly she whipped her head around and saw me sitting in an easy chair. She comes up to me, cocks her head, puts her paws on my knees, and then lays down on me.
My landlord said, “I think you just got picked by a dog. And, she’s so adorable that I can’t impose a pet policy.”
We were like peanut butter and jelly from the beginning. For her to pick me was such an honor. She was 10 months when I rescued her and is about to turn 9 years old.
What was Lola’s life like before you?
She was born in California and ended-up as bait in a dog fighting ring in Iowa. She has scars on her face from it, but somehow, she loves people and other puppy friends. She doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body.
What was your life like before Lola?
I may have rescued her, but she rescued me right back. After losing my husband, our two cats died and later I had to put the family dog to sleep. My husband had custody of his two children, but when he died, I lost them too. I wasn’t allowed to see them anymore. That was the hardest thing. I raised those kids and they called me mom. To me, they are still small boys, but now they’re actually young men.
Suddenly, I wasn’t a lover, a friend, or a mother. I was nothing anymore. So, I spent 3.5 years in an apartment with laundry up to the ceiling and a dog in failing health. I was somewhere in the annals in my mind—numb—because I had no identity anymore. It was just one of those things. I needed something with services attached. So, I got a case manager and physiatrist that helped dig me out of that state.
After everything that happened, Lola became my reason. I have to stay functional because she is my baby. She is happiness. She needs me. She is my priority.
You know, dogs are cool because it’s god spelled backwards.
What makes Lola special?
Some friends of mine got Lola trained as a professional service dog. She has an official vest, certificate, and ID card. They gave me the greatest gift. And Lola knows when she’s working. I’ve taken her on plane flights. She helps me upstairs, picks stuff up when I drop it, and is trained to turn my head if I have a seizure.
I’ve also taught her French, Italian, and some German. I had 36 years of classical voice lessons, so I can pretty much sing the phone book. That’s how I know so many languages.
How has People & Pets Together helped?
PPT has saved my life. Financially, I can take my money and buy other things that are important. We’ve been able to get Lola on grain-free food and she is just so happy. It’s huge because I would never be able to afford grain-free food and everything else. Just knowing PPT is there and that she has food—and that it’s for a month— is such a stress relief.
Guest Profiles is an ongoing series spotlighting PPT guests and their beloved pets. Stories and photos by Mac Becco.