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It’s common for a bride to get a case of the wedding-day jitters. But this woman had the perfect bridesmaid to help her get through it: her service dog, Bella. 

Valerie Parrott suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, and Bella, a yellow Lab, is trained to comfort her during an episode.

Just before this picture was taken by Maddie Peschong of Mad Photo and Design, Bella detected an increased heart rate in her owner.

The photo was shared on social media and quickly went viral. Parrott used the ensuing media interest to talk about service dogs and how much Bella helps her on a daily basis.

“This is the perfect moment to use to teach others that service dogs can be for so many different illnesses both visible and not,” Parrott wrote on her blog. “A lot of people look at a service dog team and forget that it is because of that partnership that both dog and handler can not only survive life, they can thrive at it.”

See more photos from their wedding day:

 

Well! I wasn't expecting all of THIS today. Seriously, the craziest. Do you think Val (and Andrew and Bella!) needs a couple more previews since she is now internet famous? Yes? Okay I will oblige 🙂

Posted by Mad Photo and Design on Thursday, January 14, 2016

 

Aaaaand the star of the show, during their first look <3″MOM!! DAD!!”

Posted by Mad Photo and Design on Thursday, January 14, 2016

 

See USA Today's touching video tribute to the family:

 

 

More like this:

How to Train Your Dog to Be in Your Wedding

How to Include Your Pet in Your Wedding

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