Bentley

It was a beautiful day when my transport lady dropped Bentley off at our foster home. Bentley was not beautiful. A very tall Mantled Saint, Bentley was about 50 pounds underweight, his fur was matted and thin and he was covered with hundreds of ticks. We brought him directly to our outdoor grooming table and spent and hour and a half shaving him, and scrubbing him with flea soap. The water ran red with blood the whole time. Fortunately he proved to have no lasting maladies, heartworm negative, good hips and a great appetite. Over time and with good groceries and fish oil supplements for his fur, Bentley grew… and grew and grew. Up to 180 pounds of exuberant loving young Saint. In October, we were devastated to lose not one but two of our Saints to cancer. I wasn’t sure I could ever love another dog but I looked to Bentley to change that. I had already decided that because he was such a great protector of the herd that he would not be adopted out but would live with us forever. Now I noticed that he had been providing another service in our home. I have a severe case of Fibromyalgia. I frequently fall and have trouble walking and getting up from a sitting position. I had tried to pull up on Bentley a few times after a fall left me on the floor and he seemed eager to help. I now wondered if he could actually have a job helping me. Bently has been in training as a mobility service dog for one month and he is doing great. We go everywhere together! We have a new harness that allows me to steady myself and lean on him when necessary and he knows that he needs to lean against me (luckily Saints love to lean!) when I am needing the support. He gets a lot of attention from passers by but always seems to know when he is working. Having a service dog has not only allowed me more mobility but has helped to alleviate the crushing depression that comes with a chronic illness. Bentley has changed my life. Who says rescue dogs are not the best of the best!
Thank you
Karen J. DeLoria