Young girl with rare genetic disorder forms special bond with service dog

WOBURN, MA (KTRK) -- An 11-year-old girl with a rare genetic disorder is getting a new lease on life thanks to her new service dog.

"Bella has something called Morquio Syndrome," the girls's mother, Rachel Burton, told ABC affiliate WCVB-TV. "It attacks her healthy bone growth. So that's why she's short-statured. Her hips had issues with them (and) her feet."

Bella has always had problems walking until her parents got her a 131 pound great Dane named George.

"I had wheelchairs, walkers, Canadian crutches, regular crutches, and then we got George and I dropped my crutches and started to use him," Bella said.

George now goes with Bella everywhere. He helps her walk to school all on her own. While she's in class, he'll take a nap.

"He knows what to do," Bella said said. "He knows where all my classes are."

George helps Bella play at the gym and play outside. Then at night, he sleeps right next to her making sure she's always safe.