Sweet Dog Refuses to Leave Autistic Boy’s Hospital Bed

When the Isaac family got a therapy dog for their autistic son, everything in their lives seemed to change for the better.

James Isaac, a nine-year-old autistic boy from New Zealand, wouldn’t speak, touch, or make eye contact with his family, but when Mahe, their new therapy dog, was introduced to the household, James formed an unbreakable bond with the dog.

Michelle Isaac, James’ mom, told Woman’s Day, “We couldn’t even go to a cafe as a family [before Mahe]. James would get very anxious and want to leave immediately. But when we got Mahe, James would just sit there waiting for us to finish our coffee.”

So, when Isaac was admitted to the hospital for doctors to try and discover the source of his seizures, pal Mahe wouldn’t leave his side. After the hospital staff saw how much the dog comforted James, they made an exception to let Mahe stay.

“[Mahe] was just looking at James and looking really worried,” said Mrs. Issac.

Mahe underwent six months of training to help kids like James stay safe. The now three-year-old black lab is literally tethered to the boy whenever they go out. Mahe’s job is to prevent James from running too far or into the street when an environment is too stimulating for him. He’s is trained to sit down and not let James go any farther. If James has a seizure while no one is around, Mahe is trained to bark and whimper to help alert others.

Take a look at the powerful photos below that demonstrate Mahe’s love and concern for young James, and the unforgettable bond the two have forged.