tinydancer
Diamond Member
One of the reasons I like DM is that they always try to do a follow up. I remember this unbelievable rescue of this horridly abused puppy and the wonderful family who adopted her.
And now she wins Dog of the Year for helping this little boy with autism 'come out of his shell'.
YAY! And may the the people who saved her from near death be blessed forever.
An abused rescue puppy has been crowned Dog of the Year 2013 for helping a painfully shy eight-year-old autistic boy 'come out of his shell.'
Xena, a Staffordshire terrier mix, has made Jonny Hickey from John's Creek, Georgia, 'the happiest child that I've ever seen him be', his mother, Linda, told Today.
The family pet was honored at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (ASPCA) annual awards ceremony in New York last Thursday where she was adorned with a sparkling tiara and sash.
Brace yourselves. Here's the befores. These people really did save her from the brink of death.
Xena's Facebook page has more than 41,000 'Likes', with fans monitoring the animal's happy antics and supporting Mrs Hickey’s ongoing efforts to help the rescue group in Georgia that first saved her life as well as autism-awareness programs.
In recent months, Xena also has been visiting a 12-year-old girl with cancer at a children’s hospital in Atlanta and cellmates at an Atlanta jail who train homeless dogs through the Canine CellMates program.
Research on the effects of companion animals on children with autism spectrum disorder, shows they are more likely to talk and laugh in the presence of guinea pigs than in the presence of toys.
More of the story and awesome pictures at the link. I love love love happy endings!
Dog of the Year: Rescue puppy Xena wins award for helping painfully shy autistic child | Mail Online
And now she wins Dog of the Year for helping this little boy with autism 'come out of his shell'.
YAY! And may the the people who saved her from near death be blessed forever.
An abused rescue puppy has been crowned Dog of the Year 2013 for helping a painfully shy eight-year-old autistic boy 'come out of his shell.'
Xena, a Staffordshire terrier mix, has made Jonny Hickey from John's Creek, Georgia, 'the happiest child that I've ever seen him be', his mother, Linda, told Today.
The family pet was honored at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (ASPCA) annual awards ceremony in New York last Thursday where she was adorned with a sparkling tiara and sash.
Brace yourselves. Here's the befores. These people really did save her from the brink of death.
Xena's Facebook page has more than 41,000 'Likes', with fans monitoring the animal's happy antics and supporting Mrs Hickey’s ongoing efforts to help the rescue group in Georgia that first saved her life as well as autism-awareness programs.
In recent months, Xena also has been visiting a 12-year-old girl with cancer at a children’s hospital in Atlanta and cellmates at an Atlanta jail who train homeless dogs through the Canine CellMates program.
Research on the effects of companion animals on children with autism spectrum disorder, shows they are more likely to talk and laugh in the presence of guinea pigs than in the presence of toys.
More of the story and awesome pictures at the link. I love love love happy endings!
Dog of the Year: Rescue puppy Xena wins award for helping painfully shy autistic child | Mail Online
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