Emma Mertens is a bubbly seven-year-old girl from Wisconsin who absolutely adores dogs. She has never had one of her own, but she frequently visits her neighbors to dogsit or simply play with them. Sometimes, she would even ask her mom to take her to the shelter or the dog park so she could be surrounded by the animals that she loved.
Sadly, Emma was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had to undergo various treatments, which made her weak and unhappy. And what was even more devastating to her was that she couldn’t go out and spend time with dogs. So her mom thought of the next best thing.
Overwhelming support
Emma’s mother asked their friends, family members, and neighbors to write letters coming from their pets. The notes would help decrease her stress levels and bring a smile to her face.
The word got around, and the request became viral on social media. Strangers started sending Emma letters and pictures of their dogs. Emma was delighted by all the support that was coming. But it got even better.
Surprise visit
Local law enforcement authorities saw the post and decided to work together to make the little girl happy. 39 departments, organized by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement K9 Handlers Association, went with their K9 officers to visit Emma.
When the young girl went out of her house, her reaction was priceless. Each dog, along with their handlers, went up to meet Emma and even presented her with a stuffed dog. The little lass was beaming all throughout the encounter. And at the end of the visit, Emma had her own team of police K9s.
Emma’s mom couldn’t help but get teary. She was in awe of the kindness and generosity of the police officers. She hopes that through this experience, her young daughter will find the strength to overcome her illness.
Source: Team Emma – Emmalovesdogs7 via Facebook