'They had such a special bond' - Perry community honors local service dogs after teen's death
Perry has designated September as National Service Dog Month, recognizing the powerful bond between a local family and their service dog who stood by them.
PERRY, Ga. — September has been designated National Service Dog Month in Perry, honoring a local family whose service dog stood by them through every challenge.
Zac Shumate, diagnosed with epilepsy at age 6, passed away May 29, 2025, from an epileptic seizure. His parents, Dewayne and Casey Shumate, say that despite his diagnosis, Zac never let epilepsy define him.
"In our eyes, Zach was probably one of the most resilient people that we knew," Casey said. "To have such limitations physically, he never complained."
Zac’s best friend during his battle was Alva, his service dog adopted in 2019. The family described the bond between Zac and Alva as unbreakable.
"They had such a special bond we always knew we had somebody there to comfort him," Dewayne said.
"There were days where there were a lot of just lounging around on the couch or maybe hanging out in the bed most of the day because he didn't feel well, but they matched each other really well," said Casey.
Alva was essential not only in responding to Zac’s seizures but also in accompanying him through many significant life events — from prom and graduation to family trips.
Watching her cope in recent months after Zac’s passing has been difficult for the Shumates.
"We've seen her go from that to I would kind of call it a depression, honestly," Casey said. "There truly are different stages to it, and it's not linear. And we've noticed that she's moved through some grief stages too."
The family finds comfort knowing Alva was with Zac when he passed and appreciates Perry raising awareness of the vital role service dogs play.
They encourage others facing similar challenges to consider service dogs, highlighting the powerful impact these animals can have.