Liz Pazik vividly recalls the sturdy dog doorstop that her grandparents had.
She named the dog and remembers taking it, as a 4-year-old, for countless imaginary walkscomplete with a belt around its neck as the leash.
"So today, to work with dogs, well, it's not a surprise to me," said Pazik who, for the past 15 years, has owned Lizzie's Dog Walkers on the city's Northwest Side. She has about 60 clients and about 75 dogs on her roster, and her company specializes in play groups.
"With dogs, it's a great balance and unconditional love," she said.
Pazik also is a local actress and is proud to say she's been able to "make a living in this city as an actress" since 1977. Pazik spent July and August performing in The Adventures of Pinocchio at Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater. Before that she was in Milwaukee, performing Mrs. Zero in Skylight Opera's critically acclaimed production of The Adding Machine, one of her favorite and most challenging roles to date.
Her acting resume also includes The Wizard of Oz, Miss Tweed in Something's Afoot! ( Jeff Award nominee ) , Mother Superior in Nunsensations, Mazeppa in Gypsy, Crazy Aunt Harriet in The Man Who Came to Dinner ( Drury Lane Oakbrook ) ; and Mahiette in Hunchback, The Musical ( Bailiwick Repertory Theatre ) .
In addition, Pazik has performed as Miss Shields in A Christmas Story, Nettie in Carousel, Katisha in The Mikado, Mrs. Zero in The Adding Machine and Mrs. Fezziwig in the national tour of Scrooge.
Pazik will be guest-hosting a part of the Pride Films & Plays event on Sept. 8 at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. She will appear in The Sound of Music at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace starting Oct. 20 and running through Jan. 8, 2012.
"Of course [ acting ] is fun, but it's still a business," Pazik said. "In fact, both of my jobs are vocations as opposed to occupations. They both fill my soul."
Lizzie's Dog Walkers features two full-time and three part-time walkers. "We develop relationshipsnot just with the dogs, but with our clients," Pazik said. "Working with the dogs is spiritually fulfilling. You cannot be self-centered; you have to be totally grounded and present [ around the dogs. ]
"I definitely have come full circle."
Naturally, Pazik has a sturdy dog doorstop at her home, courtesy of one of her clients.
STATS
Name
Liz Pazik
Age
"Close to 50, [ on ] one of those sides."
Neighborhood
Portage Park
Relationship status
Partners with Diana Guzzo
Favorite Chicago restaurant
Mon Ami Gabi
Hobbies
Gardening, history, geography and traveling
Favorite sport
Baseball. "One of my special skills is being a Cubs fan."
It's a fact
Was part of the entertainment segment for the Gay Games in 1994, held in New York City and commemorating the 25th anniversary of Stonewall. She got to walk through the field of Yankee Stadium and step on home plate, a personal highlight.
Text and photos Ross Forman