Hero's Hope: Junior

Contributed by Deborah Pack and Heddie Leger

Junior's adorable face

Deborah Pack is a Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher in Outreach Christian School in Avondale MO. Over the past eight years, she and her students have raised Preston the Goat, two Peking Ducks named Lillie and Lacie, and various cats and rabbits. Preston was orphaned when he was less than a day old due to a hay bale accident on his farm. Deborah's principal thought raising him would be a great experience for the kids. Not only was it a great experience, but Deborah and her principal noticed that the students were happier, their maturity levels increased, and they worked together as a team, showing love and kindness toward this little animal who became their friend and graduated with them at the end of the year.

In 2009 they raised Madeline, an 8-week-old English Bulldog puppy. They trained her so she was able to go out into the community and help her fellow citizens. They even enlisted the aid of their local Fire Department in her training, and at the end of the school year, Madeline walked across the stage and received her diploma with all her classmates. She went on to receive her Therapy Dog certification. In 2010 she helped her classmates, with the help of the Smithville Fire Department, under the auspices of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary/Petco, raise over 1000 lbs. of dry food and 160 cans of wet food, all placed in the Salvation Army pantry so that people who are struggling can have their pets stay with them and out of area shelters.

Junior sitting

This year, Deborah's students are raising Junior, another English Bulldog puppy who is now five months old. What makes Junior so unique is that he's congenitally deaf. The students are teaching Junior sign language and preparing him to go out into the community to raise awareness and funds. He will also be starting his Canine Good Citizen classes very soon.

Junior came to Deborah through her membership in Heart of America Bulldog Club which she joined when she adopted Madeline. The club was very supportive of her students' efforts in training Madeline so Deborah thought she might try working with a dog with a disability in an effort to show the students that all people and animals are valuable and have a purpose in life. The HOABC President sent out an email and a few weeks later, found out about Junior who was in Texas. Deborah knew the moment she saw him that he was going to impact her students and the community.

This all came about through a program entitled Hero's Hope. Hero is a Rottweiler who served his community for eight years as a Therapy Dog and was diagnosed with cancer. His mom, Heddie Leger, insisted that radiograms and sonograms be done because she just knew something was wrong. She finally found a surgeon who did some exploratory surgery and removed a 5 lb. cancer-ridden spleen. Heddie found a veterinary study being conducted at the University of Missouri and within two weeks Hero was receiving treatments for his lymphosarcoma, which has been in remission for over a year now. He has mentored both Madeline and Junior and is still active as a Therapy Dog. In November 2011 he will take part in a nationwide walk to raise awareness for cancer research for both animals and humans. Because Hero is such an inspiration through his second chance at life, his name was chosen to entitle the program.

Junior and Hero

Junior will be the last canine classmate Deborah's class will have, but each year he will return to greet her new students and lead them in the Hero's Hope program. Junior has a bigger set of paws to fill than those who've graduated before him because of his lack of hearing. In May 2011, Junior will walk across the stage in his graduation cap and accept his Kindergarten Diploma with the rest of his classmates. The goal is for him, alongside Hero, to teach people to look past others' differences and realize that by touching hearts, anything can be accomplished. Hero represents the terminally ill and Junior represents the disabled, and together, they can work miracles.

As Junior's teacher and mom, the moment he receives his diploma will be a very proud day for Deborah, and a very proud moment for his student classmates, also.


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