Special Service Dog Helps Her Human And Deaf Canine Sister Get Around
Andrea Powell
A black Labrador retriever named Lily is more than a mobility service dog - she is a hero.
The loyal dog spends her days not only helping her mom, Bridget Evans, who is in a wheelchair get around, but also assists her deaf canine sister, Kinley. Lily is the ears for her older sister who lost her hearing when she was just a pup.
Lily sweetly tells her sister when it is time to go outside and even nudges her when it is time to go back inside.
@lily_service_pup
Lily's mom created a TikTok and Instagram page to share videos and photos of her amazing dog.
She shared that she got Lily as a puppy and trained her to be her mobility service dog. The good girl helps her mom in more than one way. Aside from opening doors, turning lights off and on, retrieving objects, and pulling her wheelchair, she is an amazing companion.
"I am so grateful to have her by my side," she said.
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Lily and Kinley, the family dog, are best friends and do everything together. "I love how much these two love each other. They have such a sweet relationship. Lily admires and models so many behaviors from Kinley. Meanwhile, Kinley looks to Lily for guidance to compensate for hearing loss," posted Evans.
But it isn't all work and no play. The girls love to wrestle and play but then will cuddle up together for a nap.
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We can learn so much from dogs, something Evans has experienced firsthand. Evans has been training mobility service dogs since she was a teenager and founded Illini Service Dogs in college. She was born with spina bifida and got her first dog at the age 11. Since then, she was worked with dozens of dogs but has learned as much as she has taught.
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The nonprofit organization is run by volunteers and thanks to fundraising and donations the trained service dogs are provided to people with disabilities at no cost.
As you can clearly see, Lily and her mom are both heroes.
