Observations from the Owner of a "blind dog walking"
"It dawned on me that he was echolocating in much the same way bats do."
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article caught my eye partly because I am an animal lover, but also because my little Australian Cattle Dog has been going blind for six months. The veterinarian tells me his condition probably wouldn't change with surgery, so my ears have been open to any advice for blind dog owners. I found it fascinating how the dog in this article aptly used his other senses in place of his sight; what cleverness and adaptability God has built into His creatures! The other thing that struck me was how the other animals did not treat the blind dog as an outcast, but rather with kindness and a kind of "canine respect." As the author suggests, there may be an applicable commentary in there for humans… -Aimee Herd, BCN.
Writing for KPTV.com, J. Scott Wilson—a self-described "cat person"—shares his experience when his "better half" brought her two dogs into his life.
While admitting that the prospect didn't "add to my joy," Wilson seems to show a growing fondness for his newest additions, especially for the dog named Darwin, who was born blind.
Wilson notices that Darwin, if his collar is off, uses barking to echolocate where he is in relation to objects in a yard, in much the same way as bats. When his collar is on, he doesn't need to bark since the jingling of his tags does the trick.
The dog, says the author, "never, EVER runs into things unless they've been unexpectedly moved."
Another remarkable observation regarding Wilson's blind dog Darwin, is how other animals (not just dogs) seem to relate to him with a degree of friendliness and respect.
On his first trip to a dog park, Wilson had worried about Darwin being around other, sighted, dogs, in a new environment.
"Every dog, without exception, treated Darwin the same way," says Wilson. "They accepted his snuffling approach with equanimity, and greeted his excited yelps and playful advances as they would a littermate. It was stunning. From Irish wolfhounds to cocker spaniels, every dog there was Darwin's brother or sister."
Wilson adds, "There's a lesson for us bipeds in there somewhere, but I'll leave it to the philosophers to figure out."
To read J. Scott Wilson's article in full, follow the link provided.
