Students at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School in New Jersey held a surprise birthday party last week for Cole, a nine-year-old deaf therapy dog who works with them at the school every day. The children learned American Sign Language so they could sign “Happy Birthday” during the celebration, which was shared online. Cole was the ASPCA’s 2023 Dog of the Year and has worked at the school for seven years, helping students learn about empathy and inclusion.