12-year-old Corey Allenby suffers with a genetic disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa, in which the retinal cells at the back of the eye die.

Registered as partially blind, his sight has deteriorated to such an extent that he now has no peripheral vision and complete night blindness where he can no longer see after the daylight fades.

Undaunted, he’s been training at skills that will become essential as his vision continues to deteriorate: he’s mastered Level 5 braille and has been trained in using a cane. He also is working with buddy dogs from Guide Dogs for the Blind, an experience that inspired him to raise money for their cause.

Allenby was so impressed with the dogs – with their intelligence and the training that has changed the lives of his fellow visually impaired all across the U.K. – that he decided to help, staging all sorts of events with the help of family and friends.

Most recently, Corey – who attends the John Whitgift Academy in Grimsby – arranged for a special “Fun Day” which included a sponsored walk. His sister, Lola, took part in a similar charity dance-a-thon.

Together, they raised more than £2,866 (That’s $3,760 U.S.!) which will go to the guide dog charity.

“I am so pleased that we have managed to raise so much money for this amazing charity,” he told the Grimsby Telegraph. “It was a lot of work putting everything together, but my family, friends and even my school have been amazing in supporting me in everything that I have done.

“Nearly all of my teachers came down to the Fun Day to offer their support, which was amazing, and hopefully we will be able to make a difference in the lives of those who have lost or are losing their vision.”

The funds raised will be used to provide training for a young trainee guide dog; Corey will be able to keep track of the pup through updates of its progress.

Amy Petterson, community fundraiser for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said: “The work that Corey has done is just fantastic and to raise such a large amount of money for us is a brilliant achievement.”

Corey’s work raising money for the guide dog charity is not the only way in which the young man has been helping others with visual impairments.

His mother, Rebecca Fytche, helped him set up a Facebook page: Seeing Through My Eyes By Corey Allenby. Now, via social media, Allenby speaks to the parents of children all around the world who have a similar condition, people with questions, who want to know what to expect.

It is estimated that Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic condition, affects one in every 4,000 people.

Followers on his page had many kind words for the inspirational tween following his Fun Day event – and he did for them, as well.

“I just want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who helped in every moment of the event everyone who has participated you have helped lots of people and helped me so much and you guys have serious changed my life thank you everyone can’t wait for next year.”

Check out his page, and that of Guide Dogs for the Blind for more information or to help fund the cause.

Can a dog have a dog? In the city of Manila in the Phillippines, it would seem that not only can a dog have a dog. It can have a seeing-eye dog! And this sweet pair is taking social media by storm, according to Fox 8 Cleveland.

According to their Facebook page, Ginger and Kimchi have been “ambassaDOGS” for three years now.

Kimchi, you see, is a blind spaniel mix who’s believed to be between 9 and 12 years old, and her wonderful friend, Ginger, an 11-year-old golden retriever, serves as her companion and guide.

According to the page, the couple who owns the dogs had planned to adopt Kimchi from CARA Welfare Phillippines several years ago and brought Ginger along to meet this potential sibling. In the past, Ginger had been aggressive with other pups, so they weren’t sure it was going to work out, but the pair hit it off right away.

“We immediately took them out for a walk that turned out to be very pleasant, Ginger even licked him when we stopped for a breather,” the couple said online, “Seems like the dog, whom we later named Kimchi, chose us, and Ginger chose him.”

Kimchi was rescued after being found abandoned. He suffered from many health issues and was almost completely blind.

He lost his sight for good three years ago, but Ginger has been his seeing-eye dog ever since. The couple said that Ginger acquired this role without any formal training and that “Kimchi doesn’t mind being led around, for the most part anyway. They are always paired when we go out, a guide dog, for a blind dog!”

So inspired were they by their dogs’ devotion, and grateful to the rescue that brought the family together, not only do they volunteer for CARA, they have more than 22 companion animals!

In addition to serving as “ambassaDOGS,” both Ginger and Kimchi provide service for the community as well. The two dogs are often invited to provided emotional support to hospital patients, students, and company employees.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

When a veteran’s SUV was stolen in Indianapolis this week, there was far more at stake than a vehicle. The former Marine’s service dog, Wrigley, was inside.

Indianapolis police asked the public to help find the 2-year-old Rhodesian ridgeback mix, who is trained to sense oncoming migraines and seizures.

“He’s my lifeline right now,” Lana Whitner told WXIN.

Once found, Wrigley was frightened, but police said he warmed up quickly.

And of course, there was no stopping the joyful wiggles when he was reunited with this family.

“This happy ending is brought to you by the community working together,” said IMPD. “Thank you to all who helped.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sully is the newest member of the Bush family!

Former President George H.W. Bush welcomed the yellow Labrador retriever to his Kennebunkport, ME, compound this week. Sully will be the 94-year-old’s new service dog. Sully and President Bush, a lifelong dog lover, reportedly hit it off quite well.

Bush aide Evan Sisley told Maine Public that Sully, who was trained by America’s VetDogs, can open doors, pick up items and summon help if needed, but “more than anything else, the dog will be a wonderful companion.”

A now-viral Twitter photo showed Sully relaxing at the feet of Bush and former President Bill Clinton, who visited the Maine estate on Monday.

Sully will join the rest of the pack as two Bush children — Neil Bush and Dorothy Bush Koch — together have five dogs in Kennebunkport.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

It was a boy — seven times — plus one girl for Eleanor Rigby (Ellie, for short), a service dog who went into labor unexpectedly as she and her owners were waiting to board a flight at Tampa International Airport.

Personnel with the Tampa Fire Rescue, which documented the birth on Twitter, helped Elle to deliver her puppies.

An airport spokesperson told Fox 35 that a woman and her daughter were flying from Tampa to Philadelphia. They were aware that Ellie was pregnant, but didn’t realize how far along she was.

The puppies’ father, also a service dog, was on-hand for the birth, as well.

Although her humans missed their flight due to the birth, they were happy that Ellie and the pups were doing well and now plan to drive the 1,000-mile journey with the 10 dogs in tow, according to reports by the Miami Herald.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Harley, the blind therapy dog, puts smiles on children’s faces and shows them they can get through anything. When you see her warm spirit, she’ll make you smile too.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Check out this amazing news segment about a Pennsylvania organization that’s helping re-integrate shelter pups back into society by training them to be police dogs. Want to learn more? Visit the Throw Away Dogs Project website!

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sting had a long face this week that got him attention on social media.
But, his owner points out, the 10-year-old greyhound always has a long face — he can’t help it!

Sting was on a visit to the Ramsey County Library in White Bear Lake, MN, a twice-weekly stop for the retired racer that’s part of the library’s Paws to Read program, which encourages literacy by inviting young children to come in and read to dogs.

It’s been a regular gig for a couple of years.

But this week, for whatever reason, no one showed up, and Sting’s owner, John Muellner, posted about it on Facebook.

“Unfortunately nobody signed up to read to Sting at the White Bear Lake library tonight,” he wrote, alongside a few pics of the greyhound looking sullen. “If you know of a 4 to 8yr old who would like to read to a dog. Please contact the White Bear Lake library by phone or their website about the Paws to Read program Sting will be there Feb 21st 6:30 – 7:30.”

Since then, the library’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing. And it’s all because of Sting’s lovely “sad” face.

“People are asking if we could hold the phone to Sting’s ear so they could read to him,” Ann Wahlstrom, children’s librarian at the Ramsey County Library, told TODAY. “The whole staff of a Petco in California called to say they love Sting. It’s just amazing, the outpouring.”

The dog is booked through April, as are the other therapy dogs who participate in the reading program.

Wahlstrom is delighted.

“It’s meant to be a fun environment,” Wahlstrom said. “To give kids a fun, nonthreatening place where they can practice their reading skills to a dog…. We love promoting the joy of reading,” she said. “The joy of reading to dogs.”

Sting’s participation lasts about an hour. Three children sign up; each reads to him for 20 minutes.

Muellner, 56, says Sting’s “easygoing” nature is ideal for a therapy dog. In fact, Sting works at a local children’s hospital, as well.

“Nothing scares him; nothing bothers him,” he said. “Not even squirrels.”

That said, Muellner assured TODAY that Sting wasn’t really upset that no one showed at the library. The “sad” face that made him go viral is just that: his face.

“It’s his signature look,” he said. “It’s just his look.”

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

This couple, newlyweds at the time of the Boston Marathon bombing, has grown and shared in ways only a very few of us can even imagine. Along the way, Rescue has helped make their ongoing journey not only easier, but more fun. And more “normal.”

A wonderfully inspirational piece from the Dodo.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Amid all the reporting surrounding the sentence hearing of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, there has been a silent, sweet bit of comfort on hand for all the victims who came to speak out.

Preston, a black Labrador retriever, has been stationed outside the courtroom at the Ingham County Court in Lansing, MI, during the testimony.

Preston is a trained therapy dog. He regularly interacts with children and youth who are survivors of physical and sexual abuse during their counseling sessions. He does the same in court, supporting kids when they testify.

“It’s kind of a signal to him that he’s on the clock, so to speak,” Alex Brace, executive director of Small Talk Children’s Assessment Center, told the Lansing State Journal. “Once he takes off his bandana, it lets him know he can go back to being a puppy who’s just wagging his tail and playing around.”