Dog Of The Year Xena And Her Best Friend 8-Year-Old Johnny Hickey

If this story doesn’t warm your heart then nothing will. Life got off to a pretty rough start for a little scrap named Xena â€" but now, it’s just about perfect. The rescue puppy was recently crowned Dog of the Year 2013 for helping a painfully shy eight-year-old autistic boy ‘come out of his shell.’ Read about their wonderful story below.

Mrs Hickey (right) says Johhny is the ‘happiest child that I’ve ever seen him be’.

Once neglected and abused, when Xena arrived at Dekalb Animal Services Shelter in Georgia last September she was weighed just 4lbs and was close to death. Luckily a fighting spirit meant that staff were gradually able to nurse the four-month-old puppy back to health; with her astonishingly rapid recovery earning her the nickname Xena the Warrior.

Xena fought for hard to survive, earning her the nickname Warrior Puppy.

The Hickey family heard about the dog’s plight via Facebook and decided to adopt her in March of this year. And now the Staffordshire terrier mix, has made Jonny Hickey from John’s Creek, Georgia, ‘the happiest child that I’ve ever seen him be’, his mother, Linda, told Today.

Jonny had difficulty showing affection and was uncomfortable making eye contact â€" but since Xena came into his life, he has become tactile and expressive.

Xena has helped painfully shy Jonny Hickey, who sufferes from autism, ‘come out of his shell’. And where before Jonny had difficulty showing affection and was uncomfortable making eye contact â€" but since Xena came into his life, he has become tactile and expressive.

Along with a cat named Koshka, Xena was guest of honor at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) annual “Humane Awards” ceremony in New York City, Thursday, where she was adorned with a sparkling tiara and sash.

Xena proudly shows off her sash and tiara after being honored at the ASPCA annual awards ceremony in New York.

Mrs Hickey and her husband Grant, 50, post regular updates to Xena’s Facebook group, and have made a series of videos to support autism awareness and the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Mrs Hickey concluded: ’The journey has been unbelievable. It’s definitely an overwhelming emotional ride.’

Autism Service Dogs of America is a charity which works pairing children with specially trained dogs that help provide a physical and emotional anchor for children with autism..

All Photos Courtesy of Johnny & Xena’s Facebook Page.

Dog Of The Year Xena And Her Best Friend 8-Year-Old Johnny Hickey