VIDEO: blind spaniel has its own guide dog
Golden retriever Ginger acts as a seeing eye for rescue dog Kimchi
A blind spaniel and a golden retriever who acts as his “guide dog” have become an online sensation.
A video of 11-year-old Ginger gently guiding her younger adopted “sibling” Kimchi down a flight of stairs at a hotel in Quezon City in the Philippines went viral in the Southeast Asian nation last month, and the pair’s fame has since spread around the world.
The two dogs belong to husband and wife Eric and Thea Suguitan, who say that Ginger has acted as the spaniel’s “seeing eye” for more than three years.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Their bond is even more remarkable given Ginger’s history. The retriever “wasn't properly socialised as a puppy so she doesn't get along with other dogs”, Eric wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to the duo.
When he and his wife decided to adopt a second dog in 2012, Ginger “growled and bared her teeth” when introduced to potential siblings - until she met Kimchi.
“We immediately took them out for a walk that turned out to be very pleasant,” Eric said. “Ginger even licked him when we stopped for a breather. Seems like the dog, whom we later named Kimchi, chose us, and Ginger chose him.”
However, the spaniel, who was taken in by the shelter after being abandoned, had a host of health problems from his time on the streets, including damage to his eyesight.
In 2015, he became completely blind. Since then, Ginger has played the role of a protective big sister, helping Kimchi navigate unfamiliar places using a joint lead that attaches them to one another.
In a recent post written after the explosion of viral fame, Thea and Eric thanked internet users for their interest in the animals and also clarified concerns about cruelty expressed by some viewers.
“Please be assured that neither minds being tied to the other,” Eric wrote, adding that the two dogs are not tethered at home.
The busy duo also serve as “ambassaDOGS” for the rescue shelter, and “are often invited to provide emotional support to hospital patients, students, and company employees”, Fox News reports.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What's next for US interest rates?
The Explainer The Fed makes a sizable cut
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
'Beast' of a lawsuit: YouTube star and Amazon sued by contestants over abuse claims
The Explainer Can the breakout YouTube star weather a growing scandal engulfing his forthcoming reality TV competition?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - September 27, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - September 27, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Modern royal scandals from around the world
The Explainer From Spain to the UAE, royal families have often been besieged by negative events
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Zelenskyy says 31,000 troops dead in 2 years of war
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a rare official military death toll
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published