When guide dogs go blind
Both readers of this blog know that I'm a sucker for guide dogs. I've written (and linked to) several stories about them and the Guide Dog for the Blind organization up in San Rafael.
But not all dogs have what it takes to be guide dogs. In fact, only about half of the puppies that start training make it to become actual guide dogs. The rest get what's known as a career change. They might help police, work as companion dogs or just wind up as really cool pets.
My friend Pat Whitehead of Manhattan Beach (who has raised more than 20 guide dog puppies in her Manhattan Beach home) sent me this really sad/sweet story about a guide dog puppy who went blind himself. Read what happened to him. It's really heartwarming.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
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