Little Girl Couldn't Walk — Until She Met Her Great Dane

Getting around used to be a challenge for 11-year-old Bella Burton. Because of a rare genetic condition called Morquio Syndrome that affects her bones, she couldn't walk without crutches, and often used a wheelchair.

That all changed when she got her Great Dane, George.

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Bella weighs only 43 pounds, and George, her specially trained service dog, weighs 131 - so she can rest her weight on him just like a crutch.

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Bella leans against George as he helps her everywhere she goes, from school to the park to bedtime. With his help, she can walk - no more crutches or wheelchairs.

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"He helps me walk," Bella told ABC News. But George is more than a service dog - he's also a loyal best friend. When he's not helping her get from place to place, George curls up under Bella's desk at school, or happily chases her down a hill when she goes sledding.

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All pets change their owners lives for the better - but the bond between this service dog and his little girl is something special. Not only can George give Bella lots and lots of love, he can also give her a kind of freedom she hadn't had before.

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