Stouffville, ONTARIO – A 12 year old dog suffering from both blindness and a form of dwarfism is now assisting children and adults with exceptional needs throughout the community.
Smiley was initially a rescue dog whose owner, Joanne George, was unable to locate a suitable home for him when she attempted to find a family willing to adopt the pooch. However the pup’s vision impairment resulted in him always appearing to be smiling which resulted in George choosing to utilize him as a therapy dog for those with special needs. Smiley has ultimately done that and more by acting as a walking, barking, smiling therapy tool who easily wins over the hearts of the people that he comes into contact with every day.
According to George, a man who had virtually no communication would smile when he would see the pup despite the fact that he had never been known to do so before. George believes that Smiley’s popularity is due to the fact that his special needs enable both children as well as adults with disabilities to relate to him. George asserts:
“These kids who were born with different disabilities are able to see that dogs, too, are born with the same disabilities. It’s important for them to see that Smiley has overcome, and that he’s happy.”
Source: RT.com website: Blind golden retriever Smiley helps autistic kids to learn (VIDEO)