Lake Forest Area Hampton & Brinks Congratulate Boy on Saving for Service Dog

LAKE FOREST, CA — When a child has Type 1 diabetes, low blood sugar can mean dire consequences. Service dogs trained to detect such health conditions can be life-saving, and that was the dream of a Vermont boy, Aiden Heath.

Collecting change via a red wagon that Aiden nicknamed “Brinks," he collected enough change to get his new dog, Angel. Service dogs like Angel cost $15,000.

The name of the red wagon didn't escape Foothill Ranch-based Hampton Products International, the corporation behind the Brinks product line. Chief Marketing Officer Jim Hartung was impressed by the tenacity of a boy who set a goal and achieved it with the help of friends, family and a lot of faith.

“Aiden’s story is worth saluting. His hard work and tenacity in reaching his goal is a refreshing news story in the current climate," Hartung said. "We share those values at Hampton and are delighted to send over some of our Brinks products and heartfelt congratulations.”

Hampton, as a way of welcoming home Angel, and saluting Aiden for his efforts, is sending the pair a Brinks care package containing:

• a die-cast Brinks model car coin bank
• some colorful Brinks padlocks
• dog treats
• a gift card to Walmart for Aiden and Angel to use

Collecting pennies and other loose change in his red wagon lovingly called Brinks paid off for the Vermont boy when he finally came face-to-snout with his very own service dog.

“Aiden looked at me and said, ‘This is a dream,'” his mother, Jenni Heath, told ABC News Monday.

Soon after Aiden, 8, of Waitsfield, Vermont, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four years ago, he learned about special needs dogs that were trained to monitor glucose levels in people.

“They can sense it 20 minutes to 30 minutes before the blood meter actually tells you that you’re low,” Jenni Heath said in an earlier interview.

According to Heath, a Type 1 diabetes service dog costs $15,000. That amount can be insurmountable to many.

Jenni Heath encouraged Aide that if they wanted a service dog, they would have to save one penny at a time.

That's when the red wagon Brinks came along to save change for just over four years.

In April, when Aiden was about $9,000 from his goal, news coverage of his effort helped bring in donations from across the U.S. Aiden quickly raised more than $20,000, and he and his mother put a down payment on a service dog in Nevada.

Jenni Heath said Angel, a chocolate Labrador, had been trained from April until recently and had passed all her tests. She said she and Aiden had followed Angel’s progress with videos and pictures.

Angel arrived from Nevada to the Heaths’ home on Monday, Oct. 24.

With the help of a trainer, Aiden and Angel are getting to know each other, and Aiden was learning how to properly command Angel.

“Aiden is over the moon,” Jenni Heath told ABC News. “He was on pins and needles waiting for her.”

A mother's worries are never completely calmed, especially when raising a child with Type 1 diabetes. Jenni stated to ABC News that Angel would give her peace of mind, particularly at night, when it came to testing Aiden’s sugar levels. "Angel’s presence would also give Aiden a sense of independence," Jenni said.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Aiden took his new best friend to school to meet with students and school staff.

“We have been so amazed by the outpouring of support,” Jenni Heath said. “He is feeling the love. … There are no words.”