At Southern Smiles, we have a deep love for animals, especially dogs! You might even recognize our comfort dogs, Shiloh and Ripley, who may stop by the office for a visit! We’re also excited to support a local service dog trainer and author, Margot Bennett. Over the years, Margot and her family have raised and trained some truly remarkable service dogs. In fact, she is currently raising her 13th service dog!
Margot’s service dogs are placed with individuals with disabilities, veterans or professionals working in settings like hospitals, schools or courthouses. The puppies spend 18 months with Margot and during that time, she teaches them 30 commands and socializes them in various settings like grocery stores, the library, and medical offices! This introduces the dogs to different noises, people, surfaces, traffic and more, so they are ready to focus on their job once they enter pro training and are matched with their partner.
Margot has turned her experiences into several books highlighting the training process and the incredible abilities of service dogs. One of her former dogs, Ely, is now paired with a woman in a wheelchair. Ely helps her with the laundry – pulling the laundry basket from one room to another and placing things inside the washer, taking things out of the dryer and handing them to his partner! Another service dog, Barley, works at a courthouse. He provides comfort and courage, helping children find their voices when having to testify in court. These are just two examples of the awesome potential of service dogs! You can read more about Barley and Ely, and meet Brisco and Rocky, in Margot’s published books!
Proceeds from book sales are donated to the schools where the dogs are trained and help cover the costs of sponsoring future service dogs. To help others understand the many roles service dogs play in assisting people, Margot speaks at schools and donates her books to classrooms and libraries. We’re proud to sponsor a class set of her books and help spread awareness about the profound impact service dogs have! You can learn more about Margot’s mission here: https://dogswhohelp.com/
