Near-Blind Shelter Dog Gets By With The Help Of 'Seeing-Eye Collie'

In her work with the Pennsylvania SPCA, Gillian Kocher has seen animals who rely on each other — but she’s never seen any quite like Daisy and River.

The two dogs were rescued from a cruelty case last month and stick close together in their temporary home at the group’s Philadelphia shelter. But their relationship goes a step further — River, a nearly blind 6-year-old Jack Russell terrier, relies on Daisy, a 4-year-old collie, to guide her and help her navigate the world. Kocher calls the guide dog River’s “seeing-eye collie.”

“We often times have bonded animals come from a home who need to stay together, but thus far, I have not seen any like River and Daisy.” Kosher, PSPCA public relations director, told The Huffington Post in an email.

The dogs are housed in the same kennel, but even when they’re out and about, they’re inseparable.

“While River does have some vision, it is very impaired, and Daisy acts as her guide,” Kocher said. “Whenever they are in the yards, they are very close to each other, which River often following behind.”

Now the two dogs are looking for a home they can share together — and get plenty of attention from a human.

“Sometimes with bonded pairs, they will love each other a great deal and be content with that, but these two are searching for the love of humans too,” Kocher said. She described River as friendly and social, and Daisy as sweet, gentle and polite, noting that both dogs rush out to greet anyone who approaches their kennel.

Anyone interested in adopting the pair — or any of the other great animals at the Pennsylvania SPCA — can learn more about the process here. And even if you’re located nowhere near Philadelphia, your local shelters and rescue groups almost certainly have plenty of awesome animals of their own looking for homes.