The Journey of a Blind Dog and a Seeing Eye Human

I had no immediate intention of owning a dog when I found a friendly Cocker Spaniel wandering around a busy roadway. I opened the door and immediately gained a new co-pilot. It took me three days to locate the owner…secretly I was hoping that there was no owner and I would be able to keep him. When he was reunited with his owner, there was no question the dog was greatly missed.

It had been a long time since I owned a dog and that experience was all it took. It wasn't long before I found myself at the shelter, where I found the most awesome Lab/Chow mix puppy. He was quirky and free spirited with his purple spotted tongue dangling outside of his mouth. I named him Gilmour after the iconic guitar player David Gilmour from the legendary Pink Floyd.

Anyone that has any experience with a Lab or a Chow can imagine the unique duality of the mix. Once a person was accepted as part of the group, he is the most affectionate, charming and loyal soul. Unfortunately…Chows aren’t known so much for their charm toward strangers and have the potential for mule-like stubbornness. Being self-employed allowed us to develop a unique bond that ended up playing out like some sort of divine plan.

Gilmour was 3 years-old when I noticed him bumping into walls and furniture. The vet said that he suspected that his loss of eyesight was genetic and suggested taking him to a specialist. It was devastating to hear that he was going blind. Gilmour was diagnosed with genetic retinal atrophy and his eyesight would continue to diminish until he could no longer see.

Two years had passed since the diagnosis. We both accepted our roles…his as a blind dog and me as his seeing eye human. It’s a relationship of complete trust…I am his eyes…always paying close attention to the terrain. Dogs are amazing with their ability to adapt and people are often surprised at how well he gets around.

Gilmour is 11 years-old now…we’ve both turned gray together and my friend moves a little slower. He’s a ball of fire for the first fifteen minutes of a walk, which slows to the pace of no particular place to go. We have a ramp that he uses to go down stairs at home and I carry him when we’re away.

I thought it would be nice for Gilmour to have companionship as he enjoyed the last leg of his journey on this earth. Last year I adopted Zoey…a Staffordshire/Hound mix…another unique mixture of breeds. She mostly annoys Gilmour like an obnoxious teenager with a grumpy old man.

Every now and then…they rest together like a yin and yang symbol.

I would wonder where the time went if it wasn’t for photography. It’s an art that allows us to capture and preserve the moments in time that we cherish. Being the seeing eye human for a blind dog has its challenges...but I wouldn't change a moment of the experience for anything.