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Service dog helps owner overcome anxiousness on wedding day

Bella found Valerie Parrott and has not left her side since, including when Valerie walked down the aisle.

Valerie Parrott and her service dog Bella at her wedding. Picture: Mad Photo and Design
Valerie Parrott and her service dog Bella at her wedding. Picture: Mad Photo and Design

The tender moment between Valerie Parrott and her pup Bella was snapped by wedding photographer Maddie Peschong.

Ms Parrott suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. Bella, the four-year-old service dog is trained to pick up on when Ms Parrott is anxious and help her deal with the moment.

“She alerts me by licking hands first to get my attention or nudge behind my knee to tell me that I need to sit down or leave the area and take a break,” Parrott told CBS News.

Bella ‘walking’ down the aisle wedding. Picture: Mad Photo and Design
Bella ‘walking’ down the aisle wedding. Picture: Mad Photo and Design

It was just before she was going to walk down the aisle that Bella went up to her owner, and ‘suggested’ she take a break and collect herself.

It was when Ms Parrott knelt to pat Bella, who was dressed in a pink tutu, that the photo was snapped. That moment when viral once it was posted on Reddit with more than a million views.

Well done Bella, you little champ.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/good-news/service-dog-helps-owner-overcome-anxiousness-on-wedding-day/news-story/8508e3800003fc7a074744139108a5bb