When Sue Somers has a panic attack, her heartbeat increases and her body begins to shake. She feels a loss of control, is overwhelmed and falls into a state of shock.

”I am literally terrified,” the 42-year-old said of her attacks. Up to six months ago, Somers had panic attacks several times a day. They came unexpectedly and she could not control them. And worse, the attacks were caused by the stress of going out in public places, which, until recently, Somers avoided altogether. For about two years, she locked herself inside her house and depended on others to run her errands, from getting groceries to mailing letters.

But not now.

Somers has a service dog named Laloo, a 4-year-old mixed mutt Australian shepherd, blue heeler and Louisiana hound that she recently began taking with her when she left her Christmas Valley home to run errands or visit doctors in Bend and La Pine. Her fears of going out in public have subsided since moving to a smaller community, but another larger part is always having Laloo (pronounced Lay-lou) in tow. The panic attacks have subsided so much Somers can’t recall the last one she’s had since she began taking her dog, which was once just her pet, along with her in public.

And when Somers runs errands, Laloo is working for her as a service dog.

Somers keeps her medical prescription for the dog always in hand, especially when she goes to businesses she’s never visited before. Somers said she received the prescription almost two years ago from Lynn Modjeski, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in Bend. The prescription allows Laloo to legally enter businesses and restaurants with Somers.

Though Somers still has some difficulties with businesses allowing her access, her dependency on Laloo is a significant sign that service dogs aren’t just for blind people anymore. They can be used for people with emotional disabilities, too, health officials say.

Somers, who is diagnosed by her doctors with having a social phobia and a panic disorder, has seen a world open up for her that wasn’t available several years ago. Not only can Laloo sense when an attack is happening, but she also allows Somers to engage with others, anxiety aside, said Somers’ nurse practitioner, Laura Cheshire, who owns a private practice in Bend.

”This is a woman she’s had a tough life and she’s found a way to function, and function pretty well,” said Cheshire, who has no other patients that use service dogs. ”People would treat her differently without Laloo around because she wouldn’t be able to function. I think now, (Somers) doesn’t hesitate to walk into places and be challenged.”

One year ago, Cheshire said her new patient was more shy, more prone to avoid people she didn’t know. Now, even in her waiting room, Cheshire said Somers actively engages in the topic of Laloo, introducing her to others and allowing them to pet her.

The change is so drastic, Cheshire said, that if she had other patients suffering from similar emotional disorders, she’d recommend a service dog for them.

”I think that actually, you’d be able to find that many people use dogs in this way informally,” Cheshire said.

Dr. James Hancey, a psychiatrist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, said he’s not familiar with people with panic attacks using service dogs. But, he said, dogs might be a new alternative for those afraid to venture out in public places because of their attacks.

”This is the first time I’ve heard of a dog being used in terms of panic attacks,” he said. ”A lot of times, frequently for patients, one of the great feelings is a fear of connectivity … (a service dog) is one way to get out away from home and feel safe. A pet would provide that sort of feeling connected.”

Laloo has trained enough now that she senses when Somers begins to feel anxious, whether it’s when she’s eating in a restaurant or trying to remain aware and calm during times of mass confusion, Somers said.

Once when her car hit a tree, it was Laloo that brought Somers to her senses by tripping her to the ground and nuzzling up to her, she said.

”I was not in reality,” she said. ”It’s very hard to get someone out of that. With her hugs and loves, she brought me out of that panic point.”

Laloo sat patiently under the table at a local restaurant in Bend recently, waiting for any command from Somers, or her partner, Guy Lyons.

Lyons said the synergy between Somers and Laloo is impressive to watch. The couple didn’t plan to raise the dog as a service dog Laloo simply picked up on Somers’ needs and responded, he said.

”Her own actions got her the job,” he said. ”Laloo’s remarkable. It’s better than all the prescriptions out there.”

Jenny Slater can be reached at 541-383-0354 or by sending an e-mail to Jenny Slater.