Yorkville Teen Preparing for Service Dog Gift

William Belles’ service dog hasn’t chosen him yet.

In fact, it likely will be two years before the Yorkville teen goes to the two-week training camp needed before bringing home the dog that will help him cope with muscular dystrophy. He was diagnosed with that more than 3 years ago at age 12.

But he knows the donations that will provide the $20,000 dog with Canine Assistants are secured. That funding through Milk-Bone and Meijer were celebrated Tuesday morning at Oswego’s Meijer location.

The canine assistant will give him the extra independence and security to go away to college – possibly to Bradley University in Peoria – rather than living at home while pursuing higher education, his mom, Diane Belles, said. She’s already talked with officials at Bradley University about how they handled a service dog on campus before.

“I’ll still worry,” she said. “But if something happens to him, the dog will go with him.”

William Belles, a sophomore at , was an avid baseball player just a few years ago when suddenly running up the stairs became difficult with short breath and cramped leg muscles. Muscular dystrophies are a group of “genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

William Belles still participates in the activities he loves, like marching band, musicals, and baseball, but he can’t do them as long as he otherwise would have. His doctor suggested a service dog shortly after he was diagnosed, and the family has been pursuing the application process ever since.

It’s a wait Jan Maresh of Westmont understands. Her son, Patrick, has had his service dog, Mary Lou, for about a year and a half. Mary Lou’s “crazy cheerleader” personality is a perfect fit for Patrick, whose condition rendered him very trusting but non-verbal and easily distracted.

Mary Lou lay on Meijer’s floor, easily coaxed onto her back for a tummy rub, Tuesday as Jan Maresh explained how the dog has brought so many more people into her son’s life.

“If you’ve got a dog at the end of a leash, everyone wants to talk to you,” Jan Maresh said.

But Mary Lou has been trained to respond to potential danger, even if she appears to be snoozing at the time. Most recently, she began barking when a therapist reached for Patrick’s cheek during a therapy session. The gesture was safe and appropriate, but Mary Lou knew she was supposed to react, Jan Maresh said.

Mary Lou also has attended choir concerts, high school football and basketball games, church and other activities that had been challenging for Patrick Maresh before.

It’s a special bond that begins with personnel presenting one puppy after another until the eventual recipient and a puppy click, Jan Maresh said.

“Make sure you have your camera,” she advised the Belleses, “because it will be amazing.”