Sadly, many dogs with disabilities face prejudice and discrimination from people who don’t know them. They assume these pups are unworthy of love just because they are different. Some dogs with disabilities have a hard time finding a forever home because of these assumptions.
I wish everyone knew that every dog, no matter their challenges, has the potential to teach and inspire.
Cole, a deaf nine-year-old pit bull, has been a source of joy for the students at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School in New Jersey.
Recently, they decided to honor the pup in a heartwarming way.
A Special Birthday Celebration
The students prepared a very special birthday surprise for Cole, the school’s therapy dog.
The pup entered the auditorium, dressed in a birthday crown and shirt.
The children had practiced American Sign Language just for this occasion and they signed “Happy Birthday” to celebrate him.
The doggo had a wonderful time. He was eating his special birthday snack while the students gathered around him.
Cole and Christopher Hannah, a music teacher at the school, have been a team for seven years. The doggo starts and ends each day by greeting the students.
Hannah explained that Cole is a true inspiration to the children. He gives them lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.
“He teaches everyone about accepting one another’s differences and that a disability is not an inability (and in Cole’s case, a superpower),” Hannah told PEOPLE.
Principal Karly O’Donoghue noted that the birthday party represented a great opportunity for students to express empathy and respect toward their beloved therapy dog.
According to her, starting the day with Cole brings a sense of calm and joy to everyone in the school. The principal also emphasized how Cole’s presence encourages students to connect in a positive way.
Overcoming Prejudice And Building A Legacy
Cole’s journey to becoming a beloved therapy dog was far from easy and he also faced discrimination.
Staff at the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter took him under their care. At the time, he was a five-month-old puppy looking for a second chance at love.
Unfortunately, Cole faced discrimination from potential adopters.
“There was a husband and wife, and they said, ‘Why would you want to adopt a broken dog? He’s never gonna be a good dog because he can’t hear,’ ” Hannah recalled.
“And when [they] said that about this little puppy, then what would [they] say about a kid like my nephew? My nephew was also born deaf. And it became a mission [for me] to change the way the world thinks about difference and disabilities,” he explained.
Hannah saw something special in Cole and adopted him. He then created Team Cole Project, which promotes understanding and compassion for individuals with disabilities.
Along with his school duties, Cole volunteers in hospice care and acts as a mascot for the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home. He visits aging veterans on a weekly basis and helps them regain strength and enthusiasm for life.
Due to Cole’s playful and affectionate personality, students and adults see him as their role model.
His birthday party symbolized the power of inclusion and the value of embracing differences. It also highlighted the impact one dog can have on a community when given love and the chance to flourish.
Cole’s story proves that challenges like deafness do not define a dog’s ability to love and make a difference in the lives of others.