Back in 2016, an adorable story about a boy and his service dog made headlines. The dog, who attended school every day with the teenager, was given her own picture in the yearbook. It’s a story worth sharing three years later.
At the age of three, Joseph “Seph” Ware of Louisiana, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The disease causes muscle weakness and wasting, and progresses until most patients need a wheelchair to get around. Seph’s mother, Lori, got a service dog for her son when he turned ten years old. That dog was five-year-old Presley.
Presley helps Seph with everyday tasks around the house and goes to school with the teen boy every day. When Seph became a seventh-grader at Good Hope Middle School in West Monroe, Presley went to every class. When it was time for school photos, school administrators approached Seph and asked if the female Golden could have her picture taken, too.
Seph’s mother, Lori, said Seph quickly agreed to include Presley in the yearbook. Seph said it took nearly ten minutes to get the Golden to cooperate for the cameras. Lori was grateful the school welcomed the service dog and wanted to include her in the yearbook. Seph had prior problems with bringing his dog to his elementary school. Both Lori and Seph were relieved the middle school was so accepting.
Presley’s picture was placed right next to Seph’s seventh-grade photo in the yearbook. The photo received a lot of online attention when it was first posted in 2016, Presley was well-liked at the middle school, and all the kids knew her. The Golden loved the attention she received at the school. It was only suiting to include her in the yearbook.
Seph is now 17, and his loyal service dog, Presley, is still by his side. Recently, Seph participated in a marching band competition, and Presley was there to help!
Credits: Lori J. Watkins Facebook
