Golden retriever Forest is a multi-purpose service dog that belongs to Ashton. She is wheelchair-bound, but having Forest allows her to travel more independently. The duo recently enjoyed a Disney Cruise. Forest is fond of the life-sized characters that roam the ship, but his favorite is Pluto. He even has a small stuffed Pluto that he carries around. In a moment caught on video, the service dog met Pluto in real life!
As soon as the golden retriever saw his hero, his tail began wagging. As a trained service dog, Forest did not leave Ashton’s side until he got a verbal release from her. When permission was granted, the service dog rushed to Pluto’s side. The two immediately went into cuddle-puddle mode with a playful meet-and-greet. It seemed the two were best friends immediately!
The actor in the Pluto costume did a fantastic job staying in character throughout the exchange. While most of their hugs are probably from children and a few adults, Pluto treats Forest like any other fan. He gets down on the floor, rolls with Forest, and then gives the service dog some belly rubs.
Employees on Disney Cruise ships are trained to ignore service animals unless their handler grants permission. This exchange was a textbook-perfect example of how to approach a service dog and its handler. Pluto approached Ashton slowly as she explained that he was her dog’s favorite. Once he was close, Ashton gave Forest a verbal release, and he ran right up to Pluto.
This is such a wholesome exchange. Even though Forest was on a “working vacation,” we’re glad he got to experience some Disney magic. If you enjoyed this happy puppy love-fest, please share.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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