Therapy Dog Towers Above Competition

Christian De La Rosa, KSWB, Reporting, Courtesy CNN

SAN DIEGO, California — Bentley is no ordinary therapy dog. The 3-year-old, 190-pound Great Dane stands head and shoulders above the competition.

Tuesday, Bentley brought some cheer to patients at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

He is nearly 7 feet tall standing on his hind legs, and his extraordinary height is being put to good use.

“Patients love to see him,” said pet handler Pat Malcom. “He loves to get petted, and patients love to pet him.”

Malcom has been touring with Bentley across the country, visiting patients at hospitals and raising money for the fight against cancer. Wherever they go, Bentley is welcomed with open arms.

“A lot of patients have dogs, and they don’t get to see them,” Malcom explained.

Bentley already has the title of world’s largest service dog and is currently in the running for the title of tallest dog in the Guinness Book of Records.