After living through a traumatic event, Annagrace Myers found solace in the love of a shelter dog.

Annagrace Myers was finishing a chemistry quiz at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when the fire alarm went off on February 14, 2018. The alarm set off a chain of events that no one in the small city of Parkland, Florida will ever forget. This quiet community was rocked by what became known as the deadliest shooting at a high school in United States history, taking the lives of 17 people and injuring 17 more.

After the memorials and funerals, the kids went back to school. Several therapy dogs came to visit and spend time with the students, who were soothed by their comfort and love.

Annagrace kept talking about the dogs. She had been asking for a puppy for months, and her family felt that a little dog to love and watch over would be a great help. As a result, they adopted Auggie from the Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue. Auggie changed Annagrace’s life and helped her recover from the trauma caused by the shooting.

Annagrace subsequently became the proud winner of the 2018 Petco Foundation’s Holiday Wishes grand prize grant of $100,000. The prize was given to the Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue.