The Blue Banner

Before heading to class, Sandra Malicote, foreign language professor, often throws dog treats down the hallway, trying to get New Hall's affable dog, Bo, out of her office. Bo's companionship works as an alternative means for cancer therapy, according to Helen Snyder, the dog's owner and office assistant for the classics, foreign languages and women's studies departments.

"You need people and positive attitudes and whatever makes you really happy," said Snyder, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer three years ago. "Being with my dog means I have a friend with me every day. I am very lucky to work on a campus where they're open to this."

Human resources and campus police helped guide Snyder through the procedures necessary to ensure Bo's presence on campus. Although Snyder keeps a bed next to her desk for the 8-year-old schnauzer, Bo will often choose to rest on Snyder's lap instead while she works at her computer.

"This is the therapy," Snyder said while idly running her fingers through Bo's fur. "It's hard for me to come to work all day, but if I take a break and shut the door and think, or take the dog for a walk where I can focus on just talking to God, He and I have wonderful discussions."

Cancer therapy tends to come in the form of pills, chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments that are often disruptive and painful to undergo. Dogs can act as a catalyst for increased social activity and help relieve stress, heighten self-esteem and negate depression in their owners, according to an international resource for animal-human bond, DeltaSociety.org.

"Helen is a great person, and she just needs the support. Having an animal around just makes her happy," said Crystal Travis, Snyder's work-study assistant. "Bo's great. He adds a lot of brightness."

When Travis started her work-study position with Snyder, she said her wacky sense of humor and positive attitude first got her attention. Later on, Travis came to find Snyder was undergoing cancer treatments and said she was in awe of how little time Snyder spent on self-pity.

"She has this huge smile on her face. You wouldn't know," Travis said. "I've learned that you can't let cancer define you, and she doesn't. It's her life that's the most important thing, and the light she brings to other people."

Snyder keeps track of time with a large wristwatch with Disney characters, and every inch of her office is adorned with collections of M&M paraphernalia, fuzzy light-up pens, colorful dolls, glass figurines and potted plants and flowers. Artwork given by students and professors line her walls, and one colorful image shows a wistful, rejoicing woman with the quote, "See who has a great attitude!"

"My family has been extremely supportive," said Snyder, a wife of 38 years and mother of two. "But they also know that I can treat it like a joke. I mean, there are funny things about cancer, like when you all of a sudden have four or five pieces of hair on your head, and you wonder where the rest went."

However, Snyder said she now takes the importance of going to regular health exams more seriously. Before her diagnosis, none of her eight siblings or their spouses had been checked for colorectal cancer. Now all of them have.

"I tell kids, if you have parents that are in their 50s, if they have not had their colonoscopies, tell them to go and have their colonoscopies. It's painless," Snyder said.

Many professors have also been prompted to go for their exams because of Snyder. But it is her sense of humor and passion to enjoy life that left an impression on her colleagues the most, according to Dorothy Dvorsky-Rohner, classics professor.

"She is an inspiration to all of us," Dvorsky-Rohner said.

Many were eager to describe how Snyder and Bo have affected their life and community.

"We rely on Helen, and we're just amazed at how she has maintained her professionalism and reliability in the midst of all her personal worries and troubles," said Lora Holland, associate professor for classics. "She's on my 'people I admire most' list."

Alice Weldon, director of women's studies, said Snyder's assistance was vital to her during her first year as director.

"With Helen, who gets along with everybody, she's brought us all together in a lot of ways," Weldon said. "She's has just been so supportive and helpful, prompt, exact, with her spirit, her encouragement."

After her diagnosis, professors and faculty pooled together and donated their accumulated vacation time so Snyder could have her first surgery, just six months after starting work.

"They fed me; they flowered me; they brought me books to read; they called to ask how I was; they sent e-mails. This is a fabulous group of people," Snyder said.

Looking up as someone runs down the hall, Bo lets out a protective bark. That is about as unruly as he gets, Snyder said as she shushed him sternly.

"Bo has become a daily part of our lives. He is more than a therapy dog for Helen. He brightens all our lives," Dvorsky-Rohner said. "Whenever I go to the office, he looks at me with his big eyes and sits as if he knows he has a treat coming."

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