A paraplegic woman has told how her “life-changing” assistance dog helps her with dozens of tasks.
Bentley, a six-and-a-half-year-old golden labrador, helps owner Elaine Moore, 68, with a wide range of tasks including opening doors, stripping bed sheets and even taking her shoes off.
To thank the charity that trained him, Elaine is taking on the challenge of swimming 400 lengths in four weeks, which she started on Monday.
She has already raised more than £950 of her £500 target for charity Canine Partners.
Elaine has been wheelchair-bound since 2000 after suffering two fractures in her spine due to osteoporosis, as well as four transient ischaemic attacks, also known as mini strokes.
Elaine, from Kemp Town in Brighton, told The Argus: “Canine Partners train dogs like Bentley to enable a disabled person to be more independent and more confident.
“He has been life changing for me. I am now seen as the woman with Bentley, instead of the woman in the wheelchair. He makes me more visible. People see me with him, not just my wheelchair.
“He is my first canine partner. Before Bentley, I struggled with everyday things such as opening and closing doors.
“Bentley is more than a friend. A human carer is good but Bentley is with me 24/7 and looks out for me wherever I go. He has exceeded my expectations of what an assistance dog can do.
“In the morning Bentley will get my shoes and other things ready to take him out. He will take my shoes off when we come in.
“He helps me in the shower by pulling the shower curtain. When he hears the water stop, he gets the towel for me. He will get my clothes out the drawer.
“He puts his bowl in the sink after his breakfast and dinner. He turns lights on and off, he opens and shuts doors. Bentley gets me undressed. He gets my bank card out of the machine.
“He presses the crossing buttons at zebra crossings. He strips my bed sheets too. He can turn on the washing machine and get the telephone from the other room.”
Elaine is doing her charity swim at Living Well Centre in the Hilton Metropole on Brighton seafront.
Canine Partners has been training assistance dogs for 33 years.
It provides training for "everyday tasks such as opening and closing doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and fetching help in an emergency".
Elaine said the charity, which has centres in Midhurst and Leicester, desperately needs financial support.
She added: “It is very important to get Canine Partners as much money as possible.”
For more information on her fundraiser, click here.
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