Welcome To Wordless Wednesday At Create With Joy!
September Is National Guide Dog Month
Have you ever encountered a visually impaired person in public and wondered how you should react? Did you ever wonder what it’s like to “see” the world through the eyes of a guide dog?
Since September is National Guide Dog Month, I thought this would be the perfect time to spotlight the incredible partnerships that co-exist between people who are blind or visually impaired and their guide dogs!
Create With Joy partnering with Natural Balance, the maker of premium-quality pet food, and Guide Dogs for the Blind, a non-profit charitable organization that raises and trains exceptional guide dogs to serve the blind and visually impaired, to recognize the ‘Top Human-Canine Teams Who Make Us Believe.’
These nine teams are outstanding examples of the amazing partnerships possible between humans and canines.
I was particularly inspired by Melissa Hudson and her guide dog Camry, and I want to share their story with you:
Imagine for a moment that you are in your late 20s and realize that you are going blind. For Melissa, this is not just an imaginary scenario — it’s her life story.
Melissa was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at age three and at risk of losing her eyesight from a very young age. In the years to come, she began to slowly realize the impact this diagnosis would have on her. As Melissa had to sit closer and closer to the whiteboard in her college courses and could no longer see her friends waving to her across campus, things began to take a turn. As her vision continued to deteriorate, her doctor told her:
Melissa, you need to face the facts, you’re going blind.
She was just 27 years old.
The hardest step after hearing this shocking news was accepting the use of a cane to help Melissa get around. When she finally accepted her new reality, Melissa was ready for the chance to bring her old self back – and her first step was to apply to Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Now on her third guide dog – a beautiful black Labrador named Camry – Melissa is an entirely different person. She says that with Camry, her “invisibility clock has been lifted.” Her independence and mobility has been enhanced, and new-found freedom shines through her countless adventures with Camry. The two have traveled to three continents, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Even more importantly, through the highest of highs and lowest of lows, Camry is always by Melissa’s side. From navigating through the chaotic streets of Los Angeles to dodging skateboarders, Camry and Melissa tackle each new obstacle like professionals. Together, the two are ready to conquer the world.
As Melissa’s story shows, in addition to providing enhanced mobility, guide dogs can also be a social bridge, opening a world of possibilities for friendship and human connection.
To help people like Melissa thrive, please consider donating to Guide Dogs for the Blind. Once there, you can also read about the eight other amazing human-canine teams. There’s no better time than National Guide Dog Month to show your support for these incredible people and their four-legged superheroes.
Chat In The Comments
Do you have a special bond with your pet?
Please share your thoughts in the comments!
Wordless Wednesday – Week of September 6, 2016
Happy Wordless Wednesday, dear friends! It’s time to share your favorite family-friendly photos – with or without words – at the friendliest party in town!
To participate, please link directly to your Wordless Wednesday post – leave a comment – then visit your fellow photography buffs! You’ll make some wonderful friends and see some fabulous photographers along the way!
Please spread the word about this party by displaying our beautiful Wordless Wednesday button and linking back to this post (the code is on my sidebar!) It would also be great if you could use the social media buttons below the post to spread the word!
Enjoy the party and have a fabulous week!
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Very nice blog. It’s obvious you put a lot of work into it.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Dave – so glad you joined us this week! 🙂
Its nice to read about Melissa’s story.Have a Great Day!
Twitter: bethere2day
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What a nice post 🙂
Have a good week
The guide dog organization in New Zealand holds an annual fundraiser every year. All these organizations do wonderful work.
I am amazed by guide dogs and the spectacular tasks they perform. The oneness between the owner and the dog is like no other. Thank you for sharing this story. I have had a dog or dogs my whole life. They love unconditionally and their smiling, beautiful eyes will melt your heart.
Very nice post. As someone who has worked with the blind/visually impaired for two decades, it has always amazed me how people who are blind/visually impaired get along in this very visual world.
Having a guide dog is a huge step but getting to that point is not easy. The skills that one must have before even getting to that point are amazing. I remember when one our students was preparing to get his guide dog, the work he had to put in was long and hard.
Thanks.
So glad she found the perfect dog for her – an inspiring story for those of us who take our sight for granted. Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: Myllls
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Please join me on my temporary blog for this weeks WW, normal blog moving to new server, had some glitches. Hope you have a great day!
Twitter: tinarobmorley
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Lovely story! I’m impressed that they have traveled to three continents. That’s awesome! Our town has the Blind Institute and the Deaf Institute and they also cater for a whole spectrum of disabilities. In our little fellowship we’ve had several blind people join us and one young lady received her first guide dog while with us, a black Labrador, that used to accompany her to church, which was sometimes our home. Thanks for sharing and hosting! God bless!
What a great story, have a wonderful week!
Love this. Thanks for the link-up.
Twitter: Joyce_Lansky
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He’s a looker!
What an amazing story!
What an amazing and inspirational post. Thank you so much for sharing Melissa’s story with us!
Thanks also for hosting, Ramona. We appreciate you!
Guide dogs are a blessing. Thanks for spreading the awareness.
Twitter: Xmasdolly
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I didn’t know labs were used as guide-dogs. This is what I have, a black lab, but mine’s got a gray face cuz she’s an old girl now. They are very smart dogs. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful Post. hugs…. and Have a great week.
Thank you for sharing Melissa’s story. People don’t realize how much service animals can help people and guide dogs are a great example of that. I think people dont realize how dogs save peoples’ lives, guide them, provide companion ship and allow freedom for one to live life as normally as possible.
When I visit my parents, four hours away, I bring treats for their dog, a marema. When mum bought him, it was full of fleas and a bit on the light side. Unfortunately an elderly lady had difficulty looking after it, so mum took him on for company for her and dad. He is now a ball of energy and the grandkids run and play with him. I bring out those dried meat treats. The vet suggested to use them to help train him. I tried to paste a picture of our dog, like the graphics above, but the pic would not paste. Any tips would be good.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Hi Maria,
Thanks for joining us this week! Are you trying to add your blog post and dog photo to the blog hop?
If so, and you can’t upload from your blog post or your site by following the prompts,
leave your link in the comments and I can try to do it for you!
Thank you for sharing Melissa’s story! I can’t even imagine what that must’ve been like at such a young age to lose her sight. Thank you for highlighting this organization.
What a great post and inspiring story of Melissa and Camry.
Twitter: browndogcbr
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Hi Y’all!
We pawed ones are amazin’ to you humans. If we get to spend our lives with you we can learn to do almost anything as long as you remember 2 things…first, we have to understand what you want and second, we don’t have opposable thumbs.
Y’all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog
I can’t imagine being blind, but am very glad there are service animals to help.
Thanks so much for sharing this 🙂
What a story! Bravo for writing this and sharing it with all of us. Melissa and Camry are inspiring to both with and without sight.
This is such an inspiring read! Lovely story to start my day with =)
What a blessing Camry is!
I am glad she has such a wonderful companion.
What a beautiful story and blessing service dogs are. I have so much respect for service animals and their organizations.
Twitter: truebookaddict
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Nothing at all wrong with dedicating the day to dogs! I’m a dog lover too. It has just been awhile since I’ve had one of my own. I can testify though…black labs are wonderful dogs. I’ve owned a few in the past. 🙂
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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My 1st dog was a black lab. They are an amazing breed! 🙂
What an amazing lady she is. Bravo Melissa, I wonder if I would ave such courage? Thank you Camry for being such a terrific dog and guide.
So glad she has a wonderful dog in her life to help her – and labs are one of the sweetest breeds. We have a golden retriever and she is definitely a huge part of our family. Thanks for sharing the story. Visiting from Sits Girls Sharefest Saturday.
Shelley
My dog is my sidekick through and through. I take him with me anywhere I can. He helps me with my anxiety issues and other things!! I did a foster care for dogs until I found him, and now he’s a major part of my family. Soon we’re going to have his kids too.
Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you next Fri. at 12 AM EST when we open our doors.