Cole has been a therapy dog at a local school for almost seven years now, and the students absolutely love him for everything he does. So every year, on his birthday, they throw him a grand party to show just how much they appreciate him.
“As a school, we have celebrated Cole’s birthday each year he has been a member of our faculty,” Chris Hannah, Cole’s dad, shared with The Dodo. “Even during the pandemic, we had virtual school celebrations.”
A Birthday Surprise Like No Other
This year, for Cole’s birthday, he got to ride around in a special birthday carriage and wear a cute birthday outfit. A group of his student friends were chosen to push his wagon into the cafeteria, where the entire school was eagerly waiting to celebrate him — and surprise him with something extra special.
Since Cole is deaf, every student learned “Happy Birthday” in sign language and signed it for Cole while they sang. It was the perfect way to celebrate, and Cole couldn’t have been happier.
Cole’s Playful Response to His Birthday Bash
“He was so ornery all day, extra playful, acting super silly, which was definitely because he knew it was his birthday celebration day,” Hannah said. “He’s usually extra chill while working, but who couldn’t love some silliness? He looked around from all angles to see the students signing to him with the utmost attention on their hands.”
The students were thrilled to see how much Cole loved their performance. They would do anything for him, and he feels the same way.
“The kids were so excited to be such an important part of his special day,” Hannah said. “They practiced singing the song for two weeks prior because they wanted it to be ‘perfect’ for their boy.”
A Cheeseburger and a Sweet Goodbye
Once the song was over, Cole was given his yearly birthday cheeseburger, and the kids went wild watching him eat it. He was then wheeled out of the party in his birthday wagon, half asleep and exhausted from all the fun but as happy as ever.
“Cole is an extremely important part of the lives of these students, and to see their love and admiration for their furry hero is nothing short of breathtaking,” Hannah said.