An eight-year-old boy from Vermont recently purchased a $15,000 service dog mostly with change he saved for over four years. Aiden Heath, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age four, learned about service dogs that are specifically trained to help monitor glucose levels in people. These intelligent and well-trained dogs can detect low glucose levels 20 to 30 minutes before a blood meter can detect levels are low.

At the suggestion of his mother, Aiden began saving change. Slowly but surely, Aiden had accumulated $9,000 and was well past the half way mark. When news coverage broke the story of this boy, donations came flying in across the United States, and more than $20,000 was raised overnight. Shortly after, Aiden and his mother put a down payment on a dog. Angel, a trained chocolate Labrador, arrived at Aiden's door step on Monday, October 10.