A Story You Will Not Forget

 Guinness here and I have a very special story to tell you!

 Here is Maggi... and a few days ago we were out for a walk in a field that she knows well.

   You know, when Maggi first came to stay, the humans thought the splorin days were over.  How would a blind dog cope...a blind dog that lived on a 10 foot chain for 4 years.  Certainly she would need a special harness, a custom made walker perhaps? Head gear, special commands, clicker training...  But  Maggi did not want ANY of that.  So badly she wanted to be a normal dog.

 So the humans gave her a chance to try freestyle and have not looked back since.  It is remarkable really...or maybe it is not. Perhaps humans are just so short sighted themselves that they can not think of life beyond their own reality.  Who knows. 

 Maggi just listens for her cues and goes about her business.  A gentle  "Careful Mag, careful" will slow her down to a cautious walk... but a  sharp "CAREFUL MAG CAREFUL" will stop her dead in her tracks.  Any words will work.  It is all in the tone.  So simple.  Mind you, there have been bumps and bumbles--but Maggi has weighed out her risk it seems-- and has opted for freedom.

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And so now comes the special part of the story.  Maggi LOVES to run.  She loves the freedom of the wind in her face as all dogs do.  Only when Maggi runs, she has to hold back a bit.  She has to keep a sharp ear for quick stops, and she modifies her run-- kicking out with her front legs first in order to protect her face.

But not this time boy oh boy!  Maggi got a strange look in her eyes...as if she was calculating something in her head...and she RAN.   She took her chance. Like a glorious bird in flight she RAN...with her head strained forward and feet tearing up the ground beneath her.  She ran like a hound on the hunt--with the joy of life upon her face.  Our jaws dropped--one quick picture and the camera was forgotten--for what a sight to witness.

 What ever risk Maggi must have weighed out in her mind it was worth it for her.  And you know...for so long the humans felt so sorry for Maggi, that she was blind and could not see.  But it is not important that Maggi is blind.  It is instead important that she lives to have many, many more moments like this one.

And here she is everyone--Maggi--taking her Blind Leap of Faith.