FOLEY, Ala. — Living in Iowa, Lynda Folks didn’t intend to become a dog handler. But she did, and her dog, a “goldendoodle” named Bentley is making his way as a companion to people in nursing homes.

“My husband and I both grew up with dogs,” she said.

So, it was natural for the Foley couple to have a dog, and when they acquired Dusty, a golden retriever, her husband, Wayne, quickly started Dusty on obedience training.

Eventually, she joined in and the couple raised two children, Tracey, who lives in Dallas, and Tom, who is in Wisconsin. The couple has four grandchildren.

They eventually moved to Baldwin County to escape Iowa winters, and Folks once served the community as director of the South Baldwin Literacy Council.

Her husband is a tutor in English as a second language at Gulf Shores Elementary and Middle schools.

Before moving to Baldwin County, Lynda Folks was an office manager for a dental practice, and he taught physics.

After a pair of Norwich terriers passed, Folks was thinking of a new dog for the family.

“I had seen a goldendoodle (a cross between a golden retriever and a standard poodle) on the “Today Show” and fell in love,” she said. Folks went to see the dogs at a Baldwin County breeder and decided that the breed, which is a large dog with an intelligent, gentle nature and the minimal shedding of a poodle was right for her.

The couple eventually acquired Bentley from a Kentucky kennel.

“He was the smallest and darkest of the litter and weighed about seven pounds,” recalled Folks.

Bentley, now 22 months old, is 73 pounds and stands nearly waist-high to Folks. He has the curly coat of a poodle, but a longer snout and his tail has the “feathers” of his golden retriever lineage.

A casual observer would realize that Bentley is devoted to Folks, from the way he follows her every move with his eyes to the way he lays next to her, putting himself between Folks and a visitor.

While protective, Bentley is a “people dog.” Friendly and curious, he lets just about anyone come up to him for a pat.

“After I retired from the South Baldwin Literacy, as their executive director for 11 years, I needed to have a purpose in my life. I had worked with so many wonderful people who needed to learn to read or learn to speak English, that I felt I needed to continue giving back to our community.

“Since Bentley joined our family in September before I retired in November, 2009, I found he was so much ‘therapy’ for me after working for so many years, that maybe the two of us could add joy to others,” said Folks.

“When he was about a year old, we were walking at Tanger (Outlet Center) and I could see the joy he was bringing to people. One elderly lady asked to pet him and got tears in her eyes. She said ‘I have no one now.’ I knew we had to do something.”

Through a friend, Folks learned of Delta Society training for animals, a way of certifying that the animal is safe to interact with seniors and people in hospitals. Cats and other animals can become certified as well.

Bentley and Folks had a lot of work to do. She had taken Bentley through some basic obedience courses, but Delta certification requires the animal to remain calm in crowds, be open to being petted by several people, deal with angry yelling, clumsy petting and accepting people with walkers, canes, IV poles and other medical devices.

Bentley and Folks got their training at the Cherry Point Training Center in Pensacola.

“It was very intensive,” Folks said. She explained that the dogs and their owners/handlers had to, “work in different circumstances.”

One important command for Bentley was “leave it.” This keeps the dog from swallowing a dropped pill or something else that might be on the ground in a medical setting.

Folks pointed out that dealing with someone who is afraid of dogs is an important role for the handler.

“It's a thick manual,” laughed Folks. “It is literally going back to school.”

Delta certification means that Bentley has to be evaluated and have clearance from his veterinarian to be with people.

One thing Folks likes about the Delta program is that the animal and handler have to be re-certified every two years.

Bentley has made appearances at a Pensacola nursing home and, with BARC animals, at a nursing home in Fairhope.

“People would pet him and say the way he feels, he reminded them of their own dogs,” said Folks. “With one patient, Bentley put his head in a man’s lap. The joy he brought to that person was incredible.”

Because of his size, the men in the nursing homes were drawn to him, Folks added.

“It’s so rewarding,” said Folks. “You are giving back a part of their life that they had previously.”

Eventually, she’d like to see Bentley become part of a reading program.

“I’ve started going to Pensacola where they have a READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program. I would like to maybe start one at the Foley library. My goal is to have him involved with children.”

Folks tutors at the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County, and said she would like to find out if therapy animals could help there.

She says there isn’t a Delta trainer or evaluator in Baldwin County at this time, and she would like to get others involved with such training for their animals.

“I think Bentley’s mission is to help children with reading,” she said.

Bentley’s tail thumped in agreement.