As a thank you for his dedication, a Great Dane who assisted an 11-year-old girl with a rare disease in learning to walk was given a special day. A service dog is being honored for his everlasting dedication and support in helping a young girl with a rare disease learn to walk. George, a 2-year-old Great Dane, spent a full day eating human food, playing in the snow, and receiving unlimited treats in between — it was enough to put the “wow” in “bow-wow.”
Bella Burton, 11, has Morquio syndrome, a rare illness in which the body produces insufficient amounts of a key enzyme, causing problems with growth and bone formation. The Burton family learned about the Service Dog Project, a nonprofit in Ipswich, Massachusetts, about three years ago. According to their website, the Service Dog Project promotes a better quality of life for the mobility impaired.
Before selecting a companion for Bella, the family had helped with the organization for nearly a year. Bella and George, who is two years old, hit it off right away when they met for the first time. Her parents decided she was ready for a service dog at that point.
“When we saw Bella with those dogs and how happy she was and how much she enjoyed going there, we wondered, ‘What are we waiting for?'” Last year, Burton told TODAY.com. “They were like, ‘Let’s try them,’ when she was seeing George and he wouldn’t let her leave his kennel.” They’ve been like two peas in a pod ever since. Bella has come a long way – she now walks and can even ride a bike.
As a thank you, BarkPost treated George to his “Best Day Ever,” which included endless burgers, sledding (in the snow, his favorite), a treat shopping spree, playtime in a suite full of toys (he loved the rocket ship), new accessories, and a $1,000 donation to the Service Dog Project in George and Bella’s names.
If that wasn’t enough, George and Bella were also invited to “the ultimate sleepover,” which included a dog bed large enough for the Great Dane. What made George so deserving of this honor? His personality may have something to do with it. “George is cheerful and upbeat, and he is always willing to lift your spirits. He is one of my closest friends “In a BarkPost video, Bella said.
The girl and the dog are now inseparable, just as Bella predicted when they first met. She explained, “I could sense he needed me, and I needed him.”