Mobility Assist Dog Zet Provides Balance for all of Davis’s Life

Zet, a black Labrador Retriever, snores. He tends to splay his hind legs, making him look “like a car with a bent chassis,” according to his partner, Davis. 

But ever since the first moment these two met, when Zet put his sweet face on Davis’s knee, Davis knew they were a perfect match. 

Davis has Parkinson’s disease and dealt with the symptoms as best as he could before discovering Can Do Canines online. He explains, “I have difficulty using my hands with limited dexterity. I also find it difficult to carry certain items, such as my laundry. My balance is poor.”

He lives independently, preparing his own meals, cleaning, going to work, exercising, shopping, and getting together with friends, but says that everything takes him longer to do. "Falling is a risk and potentially life-threatening. Carrying a laundry basket added to that risk considerably. I need to use a cane more often now, also.” Despite striving to be patient, he often felt frustrated. 

Now, Zet’s back legs shift into gear, as his role as Davis’s Mobility Assist Dog drives his motivation to help. Davis shares, “If I fall, I ask him to retrieve my cane to assist me in getting up. He pulls my laundry basket to the laundry room. He frequently retrieves items I drop, such as my keys. He opens and closes my refrigerator.” Davis notes that overall, Zet, his “gentle, kind, fun-loving companion, … adds an element of comfort and entertainment to my life.”

The entertainment factor occurs when they are playing ball or tug-of-war. Davis says, “He also insists upon a nightly back scratch of 20 minutes.” The time is well deserved, since the pair logs about two to four miles of walking each day. And every single day feels “definitely easier and less lonely” for Davis. 

The message Davis has for the Can Do Canines pack regarding his new best buddy is simple: “Thank you. You do incredible work.”