Hi! My name is Craig Bennett and this is my Service Dog, Prince. I have cerebral palsy. I was told by a lot of people that I probably wouldn't ever learn how to walk because my muscles don't like to cooperate much. Well, I fooled them. My Mom and I have gone to Canada several summers in a row for something called Conductive Education. C.E. is a therapy from Budapest, Hungary. They know different ways to teach muscles how to do things. It is a lot of hard work. My days start early in the morning. We take hot baths with sage (everyone smells like a Thanksgiving turkey when we came to class!!!). After that we go to class for a lot of stretching and very hard exercises. We work with conductors until 2:00. Then all of us walk out of class with weird looking stuff on our bodies to help us walk. My funniest was when they put elastic around my waist and arms and they pulled me out the door. They also dress me up in Hungarian boots that I still wear.
Thank goodness I don't have the elastics anymore! I almost didn't think I would ever figure out how to walk. Then one day, on Wednesday, August 18th, 1999, when I was so tired I couldn't even think of a good excuse to get out of my exercises, my conductor, Tunde', told me to walk. She pulled me up by my shirt and I started walking. Then she told me she wasn't even holding on. I didn't believe her until I saw my Mom crying. My Mom is always crying now when I walk. Jeez!!!
Prince is more than just my dog. He is my best friend and my brother. He goes everywhere with me. Every morning we get up and get ready to go to school. Prince rides the school bus with me. He sits under or near my desk while I do my schoolwork. He has even helped out in speech class. It was a bit difficult having Prince in the classroom at first because all the other students had a ton of questions about him. But now, everyone just accepts the fact that he�s there and no one really pays very much attention to him. They understand that Prince is there to do a job and that he needs to focus on me. Since most of you don�t know us, we thought it would help to tell you a few things that will help everyone understand us a little better. First, a few things about me.
Then Prince has a few words he would like to say. I will fall down. I have been taught how to fall. It doesn't mean I will fall easily or gracefully. It also doesn't mean I won't get hurt. But please don't try to catch me. Sometimes I can catch myself. If you jump towards me to catch me, you will startle me so that I most definitely will fall. Loud noises or voices startle me. If I am walking and someone talks loud, I will fall. When coming from behind me, please move to my side and gently let me know you are there. Don't touch me until I have my balance and am standing still. When you do touch me, please hold me by my shoulder and know that I am not as steady as most people, so please ask if I have my balance before letting go. Unlike Prince, I AM allowed to accept bribes from others. So please feed me. I am shy. Please be forewarned. Sometimes you have to listen closely to know that I am talking to you. Just wanted you to know that!
Now, a few words from Prince! Woof! to everyone. My name is Prince Bennett. I am a black Labrador Retriever/Greyhound mix. I am a Service Dog. What that means is, I help Craig by opening and closing doors and drawers, picking up things he may drop, and even help Craig if he falls. I can help Craig get dressed and undressed, and I can get things from the fridge if needed. I pull up Craig's bed covers when he gets cold at night and I help Craig with his balance when he asks. My favorite thing to do is to clean Craig's face after a delicious meal. But don't tell Mom and Dad!!! I do so many different things, but my favorite job of all is to love Craig.
I came from Lab Rescue when I was about six months old. My previous owner was not very nice, so I thought maybe I should find a family that would love me and make me feel important! Lydia, the Director of Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs, came to Lab Adoption Day and picked me over all the other dogs that were there. I guess she just saw something really special. Uncle Ken, who was my foster Dad, had thought about keeping me as his pet. But when Lydia told him about the work I would be doing, Ken thought it was wonderful and decided to let Lydia adopt me. The training was tough. It took a lot of concentration and many, many hours of practice. Sometimes I wasn�t sure if all the hard work was worth it. Then I met Craig, and everything changed. Now that I have Craig, I have found my purpose in life. And best of all, I have a family that loves me and depends on me! Here are a few things that will help everyone understand my work a little better: Craig is my boss. I work for him and only for him. Craig is the one who needs to give me commands. If others give me commands, I get frustrated. If I should be doing something, please ask Craig to tell me what to do. Loud noises startle me. I do not focus as well when someone is yelling. Loud voices make me protective of Craig, so instead of listening to Craig, I pull in front of him to catch him in case he falls. I will admit, I do love to be petted. But before you reach out to touch, please ask Craig. Craig will tell me to sit or to visit you.
Only then am I allowed to show and accept affection. If Craig tells you not to visit with me, please don�t be offended. We may be trying to concentrate or Craig may need my full attention. It�s nothing personal. Craig is the only one who is allowed to feed me. If everyone tried to feed me (which I really wouldn�t mind!), I could easily become fat. Craig is the only one I should be accepting food from grin I am invisible or at least I am supposed to be perceived that way. The best compliment Craig could receive in regards to me is for someone to say "My goodness, I didn't even know there was a dog in here".
To learn more about the school which trained Prince Please check out their web site at: Blue Ridge Assistance Dogs
Thank you again Becky and Craig and of course Prince, by sharing your story with us and other it is our hope that another child will be able know what a great friend and partner a service dog can be.
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Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation
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Revised: June 26, 2005
