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.
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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.
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