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Meet Butler - the Sunderland Labrador that is smarter than you average dog; The specially trained Sunderland pet has become Tara Johnson's best friend - and even helps with her washing.

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Vincent

Byline: Katie Davies

Butler really is Tara Johnson's best friend.

The golden Labrador has been specially trained to look after the 33-year-old who has cerebral palsy.

Butler helps Tara with everyday tasks including opening and closing doors, getting the washing out of the machine and getting dressed.

And even when the mum-of-two feels alone at night Butler is there to pull her quilt over and keep her safe.

Tara, of Sunderland, said: "I always remember the first day I met him when I wasn't really supposed to see his foster parents bring him in. We caught a glimpse of each other across the car park and Butler's and my face lit up - it was going to be a match made in heaven.

"From that moment on our journey has not stopped. The light that Butler has brought to my life is so hard to explain.

"When you spend your whole life in a wheelchair nobody really notices you and people would ignore you but not anymore, Butler has changed that.

"Now people are too busy telling me what a beautiful boy he is and it usually takes us half an hour just to do the shopping."

Tara's disability has got worse over the years and she is now confined to an electric wheelchair.

In February last year her life changed forever when she was introduced to Butler.

Tara, who is about to start work as a teaching assistant, said: "As a busy working mum I still felt lost in myself and as if I had lost who I was as a person - which I am sure most mums do.

"I felt very frustrated and depressed with the extra care I needed and I just felt empty like something was missing.

"At first I was unsure that taking on the extra commitment of a dog with everything else in my life was a good idea and I suppose whenever I used to watch Canine Partners on...

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