8Kim and Dean Turned Their Blind Dog Into a Therapy Dog
Faith was blind from birth and was rescued from an abandoned shed when she was a puppy.
Kim and Dean Forsythe adopted her when she was eight months old. They already had experience with visually impaired dogs, but bringing a young blind dog into their home still required adjustments.
They “Faith-proofed” the house by moving furniture and removing objects that could become obstacles. They also walked her around the home while verbally identifying rooms and important locations.
Faith adapted remarkably quickly.
But the couple went well beyond simply making their home comfortable for her. Faith eventually became a certified therapy dog, visiting children and young people who were dealing with difficult experiences.
At One Heartland camp in Minnesota, Faith became particularly effective at comforting children who were dealing with bullying, social isolation and other challenges. She seemed especially drawn toward quieter children who needed companionship.
Her blindness became part of what made her story so powerful. Instead of being defined by what she could not see, Faith became an animal helping other people deal with their own difficulties
