Portland State Magazine Fall 2016

FALL 2016 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 23 EVEN AFTER 30 years of leading pet loss support groups at DoveLewis animal hospital, Enid Traisman MSW ’86 still gets surprises. The latest was the deep bond between Huey the duck and her “mom,” Nancy Wilson. Raised as a house pet, Huey would follow Wilson around all day and sleep in her bed every night. The little duck came running for croissant crumbs, used a litter box, wore booties on her webfeet and loved to go for rides in a pink stroller. She won Wilson’s heart by resting her neck on Wilson’s shoulder for “ducky hugs.” When Huey died of cancer last year, Wilson was so devastated she drove every week from Tillamook County to Portland for months to attend Traisman’s support groups and art workshops. “It’s all about the bond, not about the species,” Traisman says. “I’ve seen that time and again.” Since she founded the DoveLewis Pet Loss Support Program in 1986, Traisman, 57, has helped thousands of grieving pet owners like Wilson heal from their losses with free support groups, art therapy workshops and other resources. CONTINUED