Cranston man looking for way to 'Drive Miss Shapleigh' CRANSTON 07/21/2005 By Megan Fraser

When Cranston resident John DeFazio affectionately refers to his chocolate Labrador and greyhound mix Shapleigh as his best friend, he's not just using the cliché.

A former restaurant owner and drummer, John was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1996. Since getting Shapleigh in 2002 from the National Education for Assistance Dog Services, he has depended on many of her abilities.

"I had been reading an MS magazine and I saw a story about a girl who had gotten a service dog and she said it helped her out. It picked up things and carried things for her and I said, 'well, I could use one of those'," he said with a smile.

As part of his MS symptoms, walking is very difficult and his feet feel like dead weight. What's more, DeFazio is heat intolerant and finds himself constantly dropping things. To lighten the burden, DeFazio and his wife Marie contacted NEADS and received a call eight months after undergoing an interview and application process. The call told DeFazio that his 18-month-old puppy was ready.

Ever since, Shapleigh has been a part of the DeFazios' life, and things have seemed a little easier.

"When I go to work and I work 10 hour shifts, I'm not worried," Marie said. "I know he'll be OK."

She might not have known it when she left for work on Dec. 7 of this year, but Marie was right in trusting Shapleigh. After she left, DeFazio had a bad fall at their home.

"I was walking into the kitchen from the living room and I tripped and fell and hit my shoulder on the wall and it totally dislocated it and I fell on the floor," he said. "I knew Marie wasn't going to be home for eight hours so the dog got me the phone and I was able to get help."

Now that he is confined to a wheelchair, it is going to take more than Shapleigh to change his life around. In order for DeFazio to experience the independence he once enjoyed, he must purchase a handicap van at the overwhelming cost of $36,000 or more.

"Anything that says handicap in front of it is a lot more expensive," he said with a shrug. DeFazio knows all too well the price of having a handicap.

Baffled as to how they would come up with such a huge amount of money, the DeFazios had a stroke of brilliance, once again in the form of their now 4 ?-year-old family member.

Just one week before DeFazio's injury, the New England Cable News station aired a piece on Shapleigh's Lassie-like talents and the close relationship she has with DeFazio.

"We knew it was up for an Emmy but we didn't think it would win," DeFazio said.

The DeFazios were wrong.

"After the story won the Emmy we just sort of launched it off of that," Marie added.

The "it" to which Marie was referring was the plan to get the handicap van. On Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Lombardi's 1025 Club in Johnston, the DeFazios will host a fundraiser sponsored by Acts of Kindness, Inc.

"We're really lucky to have a sponsor and it makes it a little easier to ask big companies to donate," Marie said, explaining that the ability for companies to get a tax deduction is a major incentive in selling tickets.

Tickets will cost $35 and can be sold in advance to the public. Their goal of raising enough money to purchase a van with hand controls, power doors and a power ramp might seem lofty, but the DeFazios hope those interested in attending realize the money will be put to good use and the night out they will have is well worth the money.

The event will feature dinner, the comedy act Mixed Nuts, music by Brad Griffing and guest auctioneer and TV journalist Tony Petrarca. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a raffle with prizes including gift certificates to local restaurants, an overnight at the Providence Marriott and a quilt that will be personalized with photographs provided by the winner.

"It's all been donated, which is just great because I don't know what we would do otherwise," she said.

According to Marie, most of the questions she hears are not about the prizes or even the event.

"The most common question when we're selling tickets is, 'is Miss Shapleigh going to be there?'" she said, laughing. "It's so funny it's almost like she has this little cult following."

With the help of Shapleigh's newfound celebrity, the couple said they have really enjoyed organizing September's event.

"It's going to be fun, the more we talk about it the more people want to get involved," Marie said.

If enough people hear the story of DeFazio and Shapleigh, the DeFazios know that their dream of allowing DeFazio to rely on himself again will come true.

When asked what he will enjoy most about regaining independence, DeFazio looked thrilled at the idea, but thought first of his best friend.

"Being able to drive Miss Shapleigh to the library or the store or anywhere we want," he said with a smile.