A middle schooler's service dog has found her way into the school's yearbook!

Joseph "Seph" Ware, a middle schooler from West Monroe, La., is seen in his school's yearbook next to his dog, Presley. The dog posed for her own yearbook photo, looking at the camera with big eyes.

Seph has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic muscle condition that includes progressive weakness and wasting. Presley is a service dog for the 14-year-old and attends classes with him at the Good Hope Middle School. School officials allowed the dog to be in the yearbook, having previously welcomed her with open arms.

"Seph says that it took about 10 minutes to get Presley to look at the camera - and who knows how many shots," Seph's mother, Lori Ware, told AL.com.

"We have had issues with his elementary school accepting Presley, so to come to Good Hope and her to be welcomed has been very refreshing," she continued. "The kids adore her and she loves the attention."

The photo of Presley in the yearbook has gone viral.

Advances in medicine have allowed many patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to live well into middle age.

"Until relatively recently, boys with DMD usually did not survive much beyond their teen years. Thanks to advances in cardiac and respiratory care, life expectancy is increasing and many young adults with DMD attend college, have careers, get married and have children," according to MDA.com. "Survival into the early 30s is becoming more common, and there are cases of men living into their 40s and 50s."

Presley has a brother, fittingly named Elvis, who is also a service dog to a boy with muscular dystrophy.

Read more
Tags
Dog