Everyone knows that dogs are man’s best friend. Linda takes that to a whole other level, though, as she is a companion and service dog/aide of an elementary school student named Rachel. Rachel lives with spina bifida, which affects her spinal cord. Having spina bifida means that Rachel often needs Linda to help pick things up for her.
Image via CBS 3 Video
SCHOOL
Over the past year, Linda attended school with Rachel one or two times each week. She quickly became a favorite of the students as well as the entire Orange County Elementary school community.
“If we could all have a service dog in our classrooms!” said Ashley Desmond, Rachel’s fifth-grade teacher. “I mean – it’s amazing the changes that I have seen in my students and how it’s brought us all together as a family.”
Image via CBS3 Video
LINDA COMFORTED EVERY STUDENT
According to Heidi Race, Rachel’s mom, Linda became a source of comfort for every student in that classroom, particularly when it was test time.
“She will be there to help with tests when the kids start to get a little anxious or nervous,” said Heidi. “She picks up on it – and she’ll go over and the kid will pet her, give her some love. It gives them a break to calm down.”
Image via CBS3 Video
As a result of Linda’s tireless work in the school, the students and faculty worked together to honor the sweet yellow lab. She got the sweetest and most adorable sendoff ever. The school awarded Linda with her very own faculty badge, a plaque, and a photograph in the school yearbook.
Rachel says that Linda is her very best friend. See what else she had to say in the video posted below.
Honestly, I think it would be a great idea to install some dogs in classrooms around the country. What do you think? Tell me your opinion in the comments.
Feature Image via CBS3 Video
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