Kevin Rosser has a best friend who’s at his side at all times.
“This is Oreo, the greatest dog in the world,” he said, reaching down to the floor. “She goes with me to school every day and she’s just always with me and adorable as heck.”
The Hedgcoxe Elementary School 5th grader navigates a few medical conditions, including high-functioning autism and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition causing dizzy spells and fainting, and not often seen in boys, according to his mom, Angelina Rosser.
The Rossers have been on a wait list for a service dog to respond to any emergencies and help Kevin live a more independent life.
The good news came last February from a Florida organization that trains service dogs.
The now 22-month-old Great Dane was available, but at a hefty cost.
“What most people don’t know is health insurance helps you pay all the medical bills, but service dogs are not included in that, and the price tag for Oreo was $14,000, and I said: well that’s cute,” she said with a chuckle.
The price was simply too much for the family already dealing with medical bills.
The Rossers reluctantly allowed a family friend to start an online fundraiser, unsure the public would be willing to help cover the cost of a service animal.
The family was elated with the outpouring of support from Hedgcoxe families, their daughter’s volleyball team, their church family, and companies like Raising Cane’s.
Many donations were less than $200, but added up quickly.
Rosser says they’ve heard from old friends they haven’t heard from in ten years, and even had people some offer dog food instead.
“It has been a huge blessing,” said Rosser. “We would not have been able to provide, this dog would not be sitting here without the community, because we just did not have the extra money to purchase the dog.”
Funding secured, the family made the trek to Florida to pick up the black and white pup and renamed her: Oreo.
Rosser says Plano ISD has worked well with the family, ensuring the 5th grader receives the proper accommodation and that other students understand and abide by important boundaries pertaining to the service animal, like: do not pet, do not speak to the dog and do not have direct eye contact with her.
The family is already working with the district as Kevin prepares for middle school next year.
“It’s amazing to watch children as young as kindergarten understand the boundary in that she’s a medical device,” said mom.
It’s been one month since Oreo joined their family and she’s already jumped into action when Kevin’s blood pressure spiked during his sleep.
“The dog jumped up on him and held him down with her paws until we responded,” said Rosser. “There was no moving her, it was like dead weight.”
When asked why this specific giant breed, not frequently seen in the role, was selected for her child, Rosser explains it was very much done on purpose.
The selection process considers a child’s anticipated height and build. Kevin and his gentle giant Oreo are expected to grow big and tall. Together.
Kevin, she says, understands he is responsible for Oreo’s every need during school, including bathroom breaks.
“It’s a lot of responsibility, and I will say we’ve seen a confidence change that he feels he can do things he’ll say: ‘Mom, I’ve got this,” she said with a smile.
Leaning over to pet his best bud, Kevin says: “Well, it’s my dog. It’s my fluffy IV.”