Vineland School Dog's Viral Birthday Brings Community Pride
A video of Cole the Deaf Dog celebrating his ninth birthday at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School in Vineland went viral after an appearance on ABC News Tonight, drawing national coverage and hundreds of thousands of social media reactions. The event highlighted local efforts in social emotional learning, veteran outreach, and acceptance programs that matter to families and educators across Cumberland County.
On December 2, a birthday video for Cole the Deaf Dog, a certified therapy animal at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School in Vineland, circulated worldwide after an appearance on ABC News Tonight with David Muir. The clip, which shows Cole wearing a birthday crown and shirt as students wheel him into the school auditorium and sign the lyrics to Happy Birthday in American Sign Language, has become a focal point for local pride and national attention. NBC News and PEOPLE also picked up the story, amplifying reach into millions of viewers and followers.
The party video alone drew about 650,000 likes on Cole the Deaf Dog The Team Cole Project Instagram account. The account and its Facebook page each have about a half million followers, giving a small Cumberland County moment a broad audience. That attention reinforces the community message that differences can be strengths, a theme central to the school program and to Cole's public role.
Cole was adopted from the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter by music teacher Christopher Hannah in 2017. He works alongside Hannah in the school, greeting buses and interacting with the entire student body. Hannah said, "Cole has been working alongside me as the school therapy dog for the last seven years." His ability to respond to sign language and to calm or encourage students has helped shape a social emotional learning program that emphasizes acceptance, compassion and perseverance.
Team Cole, established by Hannah, extends the message beyond Vineland. The program and the Cole the Deaf Dog and Friends Foundation visit schools, hospitals and care facilities across the tri state area. Cole also serves as a hospice therapy volunteer and as the official mascot of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home, where weekly visits aim to boost morale among aging veterans. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals named Cole national Dog of the Year in 2023.
Mennies principal Karly O’Donoghue said, "Cole’s birthday party wasn’t just a fun moment or another school assembly, it really showed how much he means to our students and staff ... It was a beautiful way for our students to show communication, empathy and respect." For Cumberland County residents, the viral moment reinforces local investments in inclusive education and community care, and it offers a tangible example of how small local programs can influence public attitudes far beyond their zip code.
Photo courtesy Chris Hannah
