Blind Pooch Gets its Own Seeing-Eye-Dog

It's probably a lesson in how looks can be deceiving.

When you see 6-year-old Chihuahua mix Scarlet, you probably don't automatically think she's a candidate to be a seeing-eye dog. But not only is she a candidate, she actually is one. Not for a human companion, but for her fellow pooch, Rhette.

KRQE explains:

Lucky Paws Animal Adoption Counselor William Pierson said Scarlet is a guide dog for her Rhette, 6, a miniature pinscher.

“As far as we know he cannot see anything,” Pierson said.

The pair was brought to Lucky Paws earlier this week. Their owner was moving and said she couldn’t take them.

While they’re not biological siblings their paperwork states they are brother and sister and must be adopted out together. Pierson said their bond is thicker than blood.

“He relies on her eyes basically to get around,” Pierson said. “She wears a collar with a bell on it he basically follows her by the sound of the bell.”

Pierson said the sound of the bell helps Rhette get through the day. Even a simple task of walking through an open door can be a challenge.

“Playing and going outside to the bathroom, finding the food dish and that kind of thing,” Pierson said. “If they were to be split up, he would have to start the process all over again basically, and maybe it wouldn't work.”

The dogs' story is apparently quite compelling. KRQE's piece was supposed to drum up adoption inquiries and it was successful. The news outlet posted this update:

The phones were ringing off the hook at the animal adoption center Friday morning, but when the doors opened, a nurse waiting outside stepped in and adopted Rhett and Scarlet.  The nurse told shelter officials she previously had a miniature pinscher who was blind, so she knew how to work with Rhett's condition.