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Alex Cabrero Reporting If cats are supposed to have nine lives, how many do dogs get? One dog in Utah County has at least three, that's nothing compared to how many lives he has touched.
Riley is a therapy dog who helps children with mental and physical disabilities. Those children get to know him and trust him like he's a close friend. But after what happened to Riley, he's the one who could use some help.
It's not normal seeing a dog in a school hallway, then again, what you see in the hallways at the Dan Peterson School in American Fork isn't that normal either.
Jean Riches: "I don't see them as having disabilities."
Jean Riches teaches at this special needs school and found a unique way to connect with her students.
Jean Riches, Dan Peterson School: "It's just exceptional to see the brightening of their faces and the reaching out and touching."
Riley, her dog, is specially trained to help the students. He seems to know when they pull his hair hard, they don't mean it.
Jean Riches: "Just having him around helps with their communication as well. They're able to say his name when they've never said his name before."
Which is why when Riley chased a cat into a road recently. What happened hit everyone at the school hard.
Jean Riches: "Right after the first car hit him, another car rolled him under their car."
Brent Taylor, Principal, Dan Peterson School: "To have him hurt like that, it was really sad."
Riley needed six hours of reconstructive surgery. Wires still hold his muzzle together, but looking at him, you'd never know it. Now he just has to fully heal before being allowed to play with the children again who miss him so much.
A fund has been set up to help cover Riley's vet bills, more than $3,000.
