Little Pup Beats Odds And Becomes Full-Time Service Dog For A Woman With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Feb 18, 2019 by apost team

Ruth and Willow's story is a reminder of the incredibly beautiful relationship human beings can have with dogs. It's more than a partnership ... it's friendship. The story starts when now 24-year-old Ruth met little Willow.

Willow is a bichon frise mix. She is small, no more than 20 pounds. Her white fur stands up in tufts of curls. Her ears flop down around her face. She seems delicate and sweet. But that delicate and sweet pup has more grit and intelligence than meets the eye. She is responsible for saving her owner, Ruth's, life.

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Ruth didn't get Willow with the intention of training her to become a service dog. But, as Ruth's desire for independence grew, Willow stepped up to the challenge and proved herself capable of being more than a lap dog. At the suggestion of some friends, Ruth enrolled Willow in a charity called Dog A.I.D., which trains dogs to become service animals. Some people thought Willow wouldn't be able to complete the training, due to her small size. She proved them all wrong. Willow and Ruth completed the required training in 5 months, one of the fastest dog and human team to ever do so. But Willow wasn't done proving herself yet.

In July, Ruth passed out in the kitchen. She received a bad burn to her leg. When Ruth sluggishly awoke, she found Willow standing on her chest with her phone. Willow had witnessed what had happened to her owner, ran into the other room to retrieve her owner's phone, and brought it back. Patiently, she waited for Ruth to wake up. Willow did all of this without any instruction and saved Ruth's life physically and emotionally. Willow provides Ruth with the independence that a 24-year-old woman wants so desperately and makes her happy. 

What did you think of Willow's and Ruth's story? Did it inspire you to try and defeat the odds yourself? Let us know in the comments and be sure to spread the joy of this story with your friends and loved ones!