Faithful dog needs help to continue serving

SPOKANE, Wash. -

Service dogs dedicate their lives to humans – to be their eyes, their ears and their guide. But what happens when the dogs suddenly need our help?

Bayleene Lindberg has been with her service dog, Courtney, for 10 years. In the last three months she noticed Courtney was limping. Lindberg and her boyfriend, Christian Kelley, tried holistic healing and therapies but more drastic, and expensive, measures needed to be taken.

“I don't know what I'd do without her, she's a part of me, you know, she's a part of my family, part of my life,” Lindberg said.

Lindberg is legally blind and needs her companion's help to get around. She sweetly calls to Courtney to 'hope up' and 'move forward' and waits patiently as the 12-year-old dog slowly raises and begins to limp forward.

It's Courtney who now needs the help getting around. Courtney has a torn ACL in her knee and is arthritic. Her only hope is an $1,800 surgery at the Garland Animal Clinic.

“For me it's 'How am I going to come up with that? How am I going to help her?'” Lindberg said, beginning to cry.

Lindberg and Kelley tightened their budget, but it wasn't enough. So, Christian decided he'd take odd jobs – any job to help Courtney walk.

“Pretty much anything from A to Z, I mean I'll paint your house, it's a little cold for that, rake your leaves, doesn't make any difference to me,” Kelley said.

The couple is also selling Christmas crafts because seeing Courtney limping and struggling to do the only job she knows how to do is also painful for them.

“I don't like asking for help unless I really, really, really have to and that's hard for me,” Lindberg said.

But when you dedicate your life to each other the job is never done.

If you have a job for Kelley or can help Lindberg pay for Courtney's vet bills call her at 509-443-5563 or email her at SingingSparrow81@gmail.com. Donations can also be made directly to the Garland Animal Clinic.