(CNN) When the photographer asked, Taffy Hulse lengthened his neck, dropped his chin and smiled with his eyes. He was just one of over a thousand Northern Guilford High School students taking their photos for the yearbook.
Except Taffy is a service dog. He belongs to Harry Hulse, 15, who has type 1 diabetes. Taffy alerts Harry when his blood sugar gets out of whack.
"And he paws me, so I can treat myself with either insulin or food. He does this 12-13 times a day," says Harry.
The duo is together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In this North Carolina high school, Taffy is "basically one of the kids," says yearbook editor Stephanie Hicks.
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When Hicks discovered that the studio hired to take the yearbook photos in September had snapped a quick shot of Taffy, she knew he "obviously has to be next to Harry in the yearbook, he always is."
The yearbook staff kept their plan a secret so it would be a fun surprise when the yearbooks were handed out as the school year came to an end.
"Everyone was telling me, 'Your dog is in the yearbook!' and I was like, what?" recalls Harry.
For him, having Taffy next to him in the yearbook means a lot.
"It's a surreal feeling; the feeling of having my best friend next to me. He's always right there, right next to me".