Taxi Benke, a golden retriever-Labrador mix, hasn't left Rachel Benke's side in the last four years. So it only makes sense that the service dog is pictured beside her in the yearbook.
After the Texas teen's seventh grade school portrait, Taxi got the chance to pose for a picture of his own. The service dog is featured right alongside Rachel in Northside Independent School District's yearbook.
Rachel first met the pup four years ago. Suffering from epileptic seizures since birth, the teen needed a companion to accompany her everywhere in case she experienced an episode. Enter Taxi, a guide dog-turned-service pup who hit it off with Rachel right away.
"We joke, saying he's a guide dog drop out. He did not make the guide dog program because he has a cat destruction problem," Rachel's mother, Theresa, told San Antonio TV station KENS 5.
While Taxi may not tolerate cats, he's been by Rachel's side through school and even once intervened before school officials realized she was having a grand mal seizure.
It's not the first time a school has taken some extra effort to include man's best friend. Earlier this year, a service dog named Walton donned a cap and gown for senior class photos. The golden retriever was also expected to walk at his human's graduation.
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