" I retrieve people seeing these bounder out in populace , they ’re more unforced to take a chance on special - needs dogs . "
Kristen Strouse
At 13 years old , Raina has never miss a cadence — despite being turn out blind and deaf .
Photo:Kristen Strouse
Kristen Strouse , of Perkasie , Penn . , adopted Raina when she was just 6 months old . This sweetAustralian shepherdwas born a double merle , which caused her blank coat , blindness , and deafness at birth . But Strouse says her disabilities have never keep back her back .
Strouse has own dogs all her life , but Raina was the first dog she adopted with disablement . She run into a picture of the gorgeous puppy online and could n’t stand her sweet brass . Without even meeting Raina , Strouse put in an applications programme to take on her from theBlind Dog Rescue Allianceand brought her domicile not long after that . With the help of Strouse and her other pelt sib — aGerman shepherdnamed Millie and other foster dogs — Raina apace got the lay of the land .
Raina was still a puppy when Strouse realized she could inspire those around her and began bring her to best-loved and community upshot . She educated the public on what it ’s like to have ablind heel , showing them how puppy who are a little different can still live full lives — while enrich their family ' lives as well .
Strouse and Raina even started the Lending a Paw curriculum , a curing of fundraising concerts Strouse ( a euphony instructor ) put on with her students .
" I think people seeing these hound out in populace , they ’re more uncoerced to take a chance on particular - needs dogs , " Strouse assure Daily Paws . " The more people meet them , the more willing they are to consider a dog that ’s a little unlike . "
The other part of Raina ’s shock is everlasting breathing in . Raina is well in herelder yearsnow , but some of her favorite activities throughout her aliveness includeswimmingandhiking — on top of sniffle out treat , of track .
" Raina does n’t let her disabilities lay off her from hold out a lineament , awe-inspiring life , " Strouse says . " She ’s such a odoriferous , happy miss . For a dog who was born different , you ’d think it could set her back , but she just does n’t live any better . "
Strouse adds that Raina ’s felicitous emotional state and ability to undertake life despite being blind anddeafmakes a positive wallop on everyone she meet . Getting around is n’t even a huge challenge for her . In public , Raina follows Kristen ’s lead , and when she see the lay of the nation around the house , she stuck close to Kristen ’s other dogs and trust them to guide her .
" Everyone who meets her is so astonied by her . People see her , and they realise that impairment is not handicap , " she aver . " It means possibility . A lot of people really take seeing her , touch her , and hear her account to spirit . They say , ' If this little hotdog can make it through the mankind who ca n’t see and pick up , then I can do this , whatever it may be . ' "
And not only has Raina inspired the hoi polloi , but she ’s inspired her possessor , too .
Strouse went through her own challenges when she fell ill in 2015 . She says Raina gave her a reason to get out of bed every day and keep moving forward in her sprightliness .
" Raina really hold my lifetime meaning and purpose and she still does , " she says . " She ’s always been there for me in the good time and not - so - good times . More good times than not ! "
Raina is up for one ofAmerican Humane ’s Hero Dog Awardsas one of the candidate in the Emerging Hero and Shelter category . vote is unresolved through Aug. 24 .
