Summary
Students at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School in New Jersey performed the song "Hero" by Mariah Carey in American Sign Language for Cole, a deaf therapy dog at the school. The dog, who has been part of the school for years, plays a comfort and inclusion role for students and staff, and the performance was shared widely on TikTok.
Key Facts
- Cole is a 9-year-old deaf pit bull mix and therapy dog at the elementary school.
- Around 200 students in grades 3-5 learned "Hero" in American Sign Language to dedicate the song to Cole.
- The students practiced signing only when Cole was napping to keep it a surprise.
- Cole greets students every morning and helps those having a rough day by providing comfort.
- His deafness helps him stay calm during loud noises and crowds, making him a great therapy dog.
- Cole won the American Humane Hero Therapy Dog award in 2022 and ASPCA National Dog of the Year in 2023.
- The TikTok video of the performance has over 1.6 million views and received many emotional and positive reactions.
