"You could hear, ’the puppy is here!’ being screamed from a distance,” Michelle said, showing the joy and excitement pouring out of Emily and her family when the car pulled up with her new pup. Michelle vividly remembers the moment Emily’s puppy, Ryder, found his forever-home. “In the moment, it was so sweet to see her have the opportunity to be able to bond with him, and him with her. It was pure magic, as if we knew all along that he was going to be hers,” she said. It was “almost like Ryder had known forever that he was going to be theirs.”

Ryder brings some much-needed comfort and joy to Emily and her family. Not only did it give them something new to look forward to, but it took away the financial burden of them purchasing a puppy. Ryder came with vet services and a PetLand box.

In 2017, Emily was diagnosed with PCDH19 epilepsy, a rare form of epilepsy causing regular seizures and requiring five medications per day. As a result of her medical condition, her entire family has been impacted – requiring medication counts, watchful eyes and constant monitoring. Ryder is perfect for Emily and consistently brings out the best in her, helping with her emotional and physical health. Ryder helps to slow Emily down and bring her back when she is having a tough time. When she is upset, Ryder calms her, and her teachers say that they can get her back to focus when they mention his name. When Ryder is around, Emily can go from upset and frustrated to laughing and giggling, whether this is through snuggling, playing, or taking him everywhere.