My big fluffball works his socks off – mine too!
A LITTLE boy with cerebral palsy has written a touching “lockdown love letter” about his canine carer.
Sunley, a three-year-old Labradorgolden retriever cross, has gone with owner Luke Carter to football matches and is learning to hand over the youngster’s wallet when Luke goes shopping.
He also takes off the 12-year-old’s socks for him at bedtime and sleeps nearby.
Now, Luke, who uses a wheelchair, has written about his love for his pet, a trained assistance dog, as part of his English homework.
He said: “My dog, Sunley, is a gigantic fluffball. He has soft, floppy ears and a wet, black nose.
“His tail is a bushy wagging machine and his eyes are as black as space but twinkle like the stars when he is happy.
“His fur is as golden as the sun and he is as delightful as a warm summer’s day. He is as big as a giant but as soft as cotton wool.”
Luke, who wrote the piece about “the best dog in the world” as part of an exercise on the use of similes and metaphors, also reveals that Sunley is scared of water and of their family cat.
He finishes by saying: “He likes to sit by me and brings me comfort and he helps me in more ways than he will ever know. He is a big, soft teddy bear but, best of all, he is my best friend!”
Sunley is one of more than 300 dogs trained by the charity Dogs for Good in order to help disabled children and adults. Youngsters with autism and adults with dementia can also benefit from having a fourlegged carer.
It is hoped having Sunley will give Luke more independence as he gets older. The youngster can struggle to reach shop counters so Sunley is being trained to take Luke’s wallet, put his paws on the counter and give the wallet to the cashier.
He was also learning to open doors for Luke, of Garstang, near Preston, Lancashire.
Sunley has even become a football fan. Luke’s mother, Marie, 39, said: “Luke is a mad Preston North End fan and, before lockdown, usually went to all the home games.
“Sunley went with him. At Sunley’s first match, he was a bit scared of the mascot, the Deepdale Duck – a big talking duck.
“The next match, the duck brought in dog treats and Sunley now loves him.
“He’s a gentle giant.”
● To help the charity, please visit dogsforgood.org
‘Sunley likes to sit by me and helps me in more ways than he will ever know’