For 12-year-old Andrew Stevens, his new dog, Alliya, isn't just a pet. The German Shepard is a trained service dog that can help the epileptic boy navigate his day and cope with his frequent seizures.
Andrew and his family have waited for two years, and raised $20,000, to get Alliya -- so that Andrew could return to a regular school, MyFoxDC.com reports.
However, the family's dreams were quashed when Fort Belvoir Elementary rejected their request to have the dog accompany Andrew to school. Now, Andrew's mother is appealing the school's decision, citing the boy's rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act.
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