Bess & Beau

As most of you know, Bess was in a motorcycle accident almost 2 years ago which left her with a cervical spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis / quadriplegia. Through hard work and determination she has regained a lot of movement - including walking - but she still requires some level of assistance with daily living. Bess is striving for her independence. She wants the ability to live alone and return to life as a Pilates Instructor at Aligned Living. A friend shared her story with Leashless Atlanta, a professional Service Dog trainer, who was inspired to pair her with and donate the training of a service dog to fit her specific needs.

Enter Beau, a Pit Bull rescue. When Leashless asked Bess what breed she might want, her first choice was Pit Bull. One of the dog rescues that Leashless typically uses had an adorable, fawn colored Pit Bull with an excellent temperament suitable for Service Dog training. His name is Beaumont, or Beau for short. Much like Bess, Beau is living his second chance at life. Beau was originally obtained from Clayton County Animal Cruelty after he had been shot through the mouth, with the bullet exiting through the back of his neck. Miraculously, Beau was mostly unaffected by the bullet wound. He has spent the last 9 months in a rescue boarding facility awaiting his forever home.

Then there is the issue with grant based Service Dogs. They can cost upwards of 30K. The expenses include but are not limited to: specialized breed, veterinary care, professional training, and boarding. Not to mention, the waiting list for one of these dogs is around two years in most cases. And that's IF you get accepted. While the grant based service dog model is an amazing program, it does not fit every situation.

This is where Leashless Atlanta is stepping in, graciously taking on the boarding and donating the training necessary for Beau to suit Bess's specific needs so that she can live an independent life and Beau can have his forever home. Things such as picking up dropped items, opening doors, activating switches, turning handles, and mobility assistance. We are trying to raise the $5000 it takes to cover the cost of food and board. It's such a minimal amount compared to the grant based dog model and brings Bess and Beau together way sooner, with training to continue beyond Bess taking possession of Beau. Bess and Beau were meant to be and are excited to live their second chance together!