![\"dog-boy-down-syndrome-2\"](\"https:\/\/2ngaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/dog-boy-down-syndrome-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tA yellow Labrador Retriever did not give up on befriending a 3-year-old boy with Down Syndrome, despite the latter not wanting to be friends with him at first.<\/p>\n
According to the boy\u2019s mother Ana, Hernan actually shies away from contact and does not want to be touched \u2013 even by his own parents. But Himalaya, the Labrador, just wouldn\u2019t accept \u201cno\u201d as an answer. Despite Hernan not wanting to be her friend, she gently insisted that they play.<\/p>\n
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Ana pointed out that Himalaya, who is owned by Hernan\u2019s uncle, had never been aggressive towards the boy but had only wanted to make friends by persistently trying to get the child\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
Himalaya\u2019s efforts paid off. Little by little, Hernan warmed up to the dog.<\/p>\n
![\"dog-boy-down-syndrome-3\"](\"https:\/\/2ngaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/dog-boy-down-syndrome-3.jpg\")
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In the touching interaction that Ana caught on camera outside their home in La Plata in Buenos Aires, Himalaya could be seen trying to befriend Hernan while the boy was reluctant at first. While many kids enjoy playing with dogs and are not afraid to touch even the fierce ones, Hernan was shy and did not like the dog\u2019s playful character.<\/p>\n
![\"dog-boy-down-syndrome\"](\"https:\/\/2ngaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/dog-boy-down-syndrome.jpg\")
The clip, taken in May 2012, had since gone viral and has been viewed close to 20 million times on Facebook when it was reposted by Jim Stenson who was contacted by Ana to feature the video on his channel.<\/p>\n