Bonny O’Donnell and her service dog at school
Everyone would agree bullying is tragic for many kids as they go through the awkward teenage years. Bonny O’Donnell, 17 a junior at Savannah High School in Georgia was bullied daily by other kids in school. Bonny suffers from a hormone imbalance that has caused her to become overweight.
Daily she would hear jeers from her peers “whales are not allowed in shark country” and other terrible bullying comments. This bullying caused Bonny to have terrible nightmares and caused her to not sleep. Bonny’s parents intervened once they began to see the torture she was going through and brought her in to see a psychiatrist.
Bonny was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the bullying, and was prescribed medications for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Bonny’s therapist recommended a service dog to help treat her anxiety and fear of people due to the bullying.
Since Bonny was recommended the therapy dog as treatment she is a new person. After months of trying to persuade her school to accept the service dog, the school is now allowing her to have the service dog in school.
This Monday Bonny will be allowed to have her service dog to to classes with her for the first time, and guess what Bonny said, “I’m not afraid to go to school now!”
Many children and adults suffer from anxiety, post traumatic stress, autism, and other mental illnesses that cause them to not participate in group settings. Emotional Support Animals and service dogs can really help change a person’s ability to cope.
