Abandoned Shelter Puppy Becomes Service Dog For Boy With Special Needs

In today's adorable news, a once-abandoned puppy that was kept at a shelter has now become a service dog for a 10-year-old boy with autism and Williams syndrome.

According to the Reading Eagle in Pennsylvania, retriever mix Sasha was dropped off at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County in the Summer of 2013 without a note. When she arrived there, the dog was 3 months old and so sick she almost didn't survive.

Thankfully, the pup got the care she needed, and her life — and 10-year-old Mikey Wojcik's — changed for the better. After dog trainer Katie Burland saw potential in Sasha, she took the initiative to take the dog home, where she trained her for a year and a half. "It takes an incredibly special animal to become a service dog, and dogs with the necessary temperament do exist in animal shelters," said Burland.

Almost 1,000 hours of training later, the dog now knows 32 voice- and hand-signal commands, and she's trained to respond calmly to any outbursts Mikey may have — she even knows to lick Mikey's face to provide deep-pressure therapy when he has a tantrum.

"Sasha likes me," said Mikey, whose family officially adopted Sasha. Mikey's mother, Rosa Cortes, noted that her son doesn't usually speak much, but his new puppy is influencing his behavior and he's talking more.

"I mean, what else can I say?" said Cortes. "Sasha is a wonderful influence."

For (adorable) photos of Mikey and Sasha, visit Pennsylvania's Reading Eagle.