A Utah high school decided to give a life-saving dog a spot in the yearbook.
As People magazine reported, Hailee Blonquist had an unexpected guest next to her in her yearbook photo — her golden retriever Katie, a service dog who has attended school with her every day for the last two years.
“I thought they might stick a picture of her somewhere in the yearbook, but to see her right next to me as ‘Katie Blonquist’ was pretty cool,” Hailee, a junior at North Summit High School in Coalville, Utah, told People. “Everyone loves Katie. She’s always been by my side.”
Blonquist was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in December 2014, which happened after she visited the hospital several times with emergencies.
Her mother, Destinie Blonquist, said she had a “rough” year with all the emergency room visits.
Destinie said a friend told her and her husband, Axcil Blonquist, that the organization Tattletale Scent Dogs trains dogs to be alert for diabetic owners when they have low and high glucose levels.
“Incredibly, since we received Katie, Hailee hasn’t had any more scary episodes,” Destinie tells People. “She lets Hailee know when she needs to check her blood sugar, and she’s enabled her to maintain her numbers evenly. She’s given us all peace of mind. She’s part of the family.”
Hailee said the dog saved her life on multiple occasions. And her friends at school adore the dog.
Read more at People.