When kids have to deal with disabilities and rare conditions, life can be really tough. After all, they’re young and don’t have the wealth of experience it takes to wrap their heads around the fact that every person is different and unique in their own way.
Heartbreakingly, kids dealing with illness often face bullying from other children who also fail to grasp that everyone’s story is one of a kind. One little boy named Owen, who deals with Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, knows that all too well. His condition causes his muscles to seize up involuntarily, which can make social interaction tough for people who don’t understand what he’s going through. For that reason, he has had a hard time making friends.
Across the pond in London, someone else was going through hard times and feeling like he had nowhere to turn. Haatchi the dog was tied to a post in North London and hit by a train, which caused him to lose his tail and one of his legs. Owen’s parents caught wind of Haatchi’s story online, and when they showed him to their little guy, they could tell that he immediately felt drawn to the dog.
And when they met, it was love at first sight. These two bonded over their shared struggles and have been inseparable since the moment they laid eyes on each other. Learn more about their special friendship in the video below and be sure to share their story with the people you love.