An elementary school made one little girl’s year when they saved a spot in their yearbook for her service dog.
As per reports, St. Patrick Catholic School in Louisville, Kentucky, surprised 7-year-old Hadley Jo Lange by including a photo of her Labradoodle service dog, Ariel, in the yearbook for her kindergarten class.
Hadley Jo suffers from epilepsy and Ariel helps her to do all manner of things. Hadley Jo’s mom, Heather Lange, told CNN:”This dog has really saved my daughter’s life.
“I don’t know how I could ever thank Ariel as a mother. She goes with her everywhere, to school, rides the bus with her, goes to her dance classes and soccer practice. She always has her eyes on my little girl. It’s a huge sense of security.”
As per CNN, Ariel, 4, bonded with Hadley Jo when she was just a pup. She is able to to recognize when the first-grader is having an epileptic episode which can result in a seizure.
As soon as an episode occurs, Ariel barks to alert the teacher, and has been trained to use her own body to cushion Hadley Jo during a seizure.
Nathan Sturtzel, principal of St. Patrick Catholic School, told CNN: “It’s important for us to do all we can to foster our relationship with families and do what we can to support students.
“We love Ariel. She’s part of Hadley Jo’s family so she’s a part of our family too. Finding a place for her in our yearbook was an easy decision and it was a lot of fun to include her. We loved it.”
It might seem like a small gesture, but Ariel’s inclusion obviously means so much for Hadley Jo and her family. Thank you for making this happen!
Share this article on Facebook if it put a smile on your face.
