Service dog inspires young artist

10-year-old Aden Jones has an amazing relationship with his dog, Scooby.

“From the moment I saw him, I loved him,” Aden said.

Lots of boys love their dogs but there is a special bond between these two. It began when Aden and his parents were at the pet store looking for a dog for him.

“And I went to my dad and I said, ‘What about that one?,’ and that one was Scooby and he came to me,” Aden said.

Aden’s parents were looking for a special service dog for Aden.

“If someone’s not breathing well they can sense certain body chemical levels and he just naturally had it,” Aden’s mother, Lonni Jones said.

Aden has a severe latex allergy and asthma. The allergy was so bad Aden had to be home-schooled after the second grade, because it was so difficult to avoid latex at school. Scooby senses when Aden is in trouble and warns his parents, literally saving Aden’s life.

“One night his throat started to swell shut in the middle of the night. Had there not been a Scooby to tell us, and me having the feeling to go check on him, it could have been a disaster,” Lonni said.

After Scooby, Aden’s next love is art. He takes after his mom. Scooby is his favorite thing to paint.

When it comes to art you might call Aden a child prodigy. His mom first noticed it when he did a self-portrait for a school assignment when he was 7.

After that, each year Aden entered his paintings at the fair. He’s won medal after medal.

This year he entered several paintings, but the one of Scooby caught the judges eye for first place.

But then it’s little wonder the dog that saved his life was the inspiration for an award-winning piece of art.

“He’s loyal to me. I’m loyal to him,” Aden said.