A 6-year-old boy in England who didn’t talk became a chatterbox almost overnight after he fell in love with a dog living thousands of miles and an ocean away.
William, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3, hasn’t been able to speak much for his whole life, The Dodo reported.
“William is a very happy, gentle boy,” his mother, Emmi, told The Dodo. “He says some single words, but most of these are not used in a communicative way or will just be him labeling things he sees.”
READ: The Touching Moment a 4-Year-Old With Autism Meets His Service Dog for the First Time
William has been able to connect with animals. He’s bonded with the family’s rescue cat and loves to watch nature documentaries, his mother said, adding that his favorite animals are big cats, specifically tigers, cheetah and jaguars.
https://www.facebook.com/wildcatsanctuary/videos/10155275413342183/
So, William’s reaction when he saw Cookie, an emaciated rescue dog the Wildcat Sanctuary featured on its website after she was fitted for her new winter boots, was surprising, to say the least.
“Not only did he actually speak and say … ‘Cookie wearing shoes, funny,’ but he gave me his opinion of the photo too!” Emmi said. “It was so magical.”
Did you see this very special article about our very special girl, Cookie? We love it when people tell us stories… https://t.co/5th12NwUzh
— Wildcat Sanctuary (@wcsanctuary) December 24, 2017
But William’s first sentence was the end of his newfound love of talking. He keeps asking for the latest updates on “Cookie-dog,” according to his mother.
Cookie had been living as an emaciated stray in the woods of Minnesota, according to The Wildlife Sanctuary. A Good Samaritan tipped off the organization to Cookie’s condition, and rescuers stepped into help.
“Even though we’re a sanctuary for wild cats, I can’t tell you the number of phone calls I get about all sorts of animals in need,” a sanctuary staff member wrote. “Of course, we’ll do everything we can to help any animal suffering. That’s how this sweet little girl ended up at our gate.”
https://www.facebook.com/wildcatsanctuary/videos/10155335009862183/
Cookie has found her forever home and has been gaining weight, the sanctuary said. Although she was diagnosed with diabetes, she will continue treatement.
(H/T: The Dodo)