CARY, N.C. — After suffering the loss of one of her puppies in training late last year, Margot Bennett has found yet another way to give back to others.

What You Need To Know

Puppy trainer creates fund in honor of puppy gone too soon

It costs $50,000 to raise a service dog

Margot Bennett is training her 12th service dog, Tupelo

Bennett works with a group called Canine Companions, raising dogs to become service animals for adults, children and veterans with disabilities, free of charge.

“Good job, good boy, good boy,” said Bennett.

Three-and-a-half-month-old Tupelo is indeed a very good boy.

“He’s doing really well. He’s a snuggler, which is nice,” said Bennett.

Bennett, who has been training puppies like Tupelo for 25 years, can use those snuggles.

“The fact that he’s so cuddly and wants to snuggle is what I needed, after losing Apex,” said Bennett.

Bennett lost Apex, a puppy she was training, back in November. He was just 5 months old.

“It was heartbreaking. In my mind, he was somebody’s future service dog and I lost what I felt like was his purpose,” said Bennett.

Bennett says Apex passed away after he was diagnosed with pneumonia, and says doctors at N.C. State did everything they could to save him.

“You know there’s an end, when they’re matched with someone, and Apex didn’t get that chance and it wasn’t fair,” she said.

Tupelo is now continuing the work Apex started.

Bennett takes all her service puppies in training to the Cary Regional Library, where they can be exposed to people, stairs and tight spaces.

“The service dogs will learn how to tuck themselves under something so when they’re in a restaurant or work they can stay settled,” said Bennett.

Bennett says it cost $50,000 to raise a service dog.

It’s why she’s started a fund, in Apex’s honor, with a goal of raising $25,000 to fund future service dogs.

Donations are crucial because dogs like Tupelo are eventually paired with their forever partner, at no cost to them.

“After Apex passed away, I told them I wanted another dog as soon as possible. Working with them is my passion right now. I didn’t want to wait to get another puppy, I was kinda lost,” said Bennett.

For information on how to donate to the fund in honor of Apex, click here.