Service dog leads former Plainfield woman to be animal rights activist

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Former Plainfield resident Leza Raley-Labrador is pictured with her husband Luis Labrador. Since Leza acquired her service dog London, Leza has been actively engaged in animal rights activities. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Updated: February 18, 2012 8:02AM

Former Plainfield resident Leza Raley-Labrador has always kept pets, but until London, a year-old, miniature, long-haired dachshund service dog entered her life, Raley-Labrador aimed her charity work at children, not animal rights.

But now, through her Facebook page, Peace, Love & Paw Prints, Raley-Labrador, now of California, will share animal-related events, news, stories, rescues, charities, books and classes, as well as updates on her animal-related projects, such as creating an organic, dog-friendly menu for a California hotel that will now cater to canine, as well as human customers.

“I want to raise awareness and at the same time, have a place we can enjoy with our best friends,” said Raley-Labrador, whose inspiration came from The Public Landing Restaurant in Lockport, which allows dogs on its outdoor courtyard and offers a “Yappetizer” menu.

“My dog is a service dog, so she can go everywhere with me, but other people who love animals can’t always bring them into a five-star restaurant,” she said.

Raley-Labrador, despite her last name, is not limiting her animal activist efforts to dogs.

“I care for anything with a beating heart,” she said. “I don’t care if it walks on two legs, four legs or has wings.”

Raley-Labrador’s exciting, but high-stress jobs, first as a talent and fashion agent and now as script writer and producer for films with a message — Raley-Labrador co-owns Digital Breathing production studio with her husband Luis Labrador — has unwanted side effects: crippling anxiety and debilitating migraine headaches.

In the past, Raley-Labrador sought out acupuncture several times a week for relief. Today, she turns to London, a service dog specially trained to be emotionally soothing.

Because of her relationship to London, Raley-Labrador has since become sensitive to animal rights.

“My love for animals is so much deeper,” Raley-Labrador said. “London has changed me.”

‘As special as my husband’

Raley-Labrador is now a practicing vegetarian (Labrador had unsuccessfully experimented with vegetarianism in the past) and feeds London only organic raw food and vegetables (such as broccoli and squash) that Raley-Labrador freshly prepares each day.

“London is as special to me as my husband is,” Raley-Labrador said. “There is no difference.”

While such a deep love for pets might seem strange to some Midwesterners, Raley-Labrador said it’s common in California, where celebrities are often seen interacting with pets as if the animals were human.

“They go to red carpet events and carry around their animals,” Raley-Labrador. “They don’t see them as pets. They’re more than animals. For instance, I had a friend that even trained a wild squirrel to come into his house and ring a bell when it was hungry and he would feed it.”

Mostly, Raley-Labrador wants others to know that animals, like people, have a tremendous capacity for love, compassion and empathy that is often understated.

“I recently posted a video about a dog helping a cat to give birth,” Raley-Labrador said.

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