An example and an inspiration to us all …

Watch the video and know the beautiful history of this blind dog named Smiley…The golden retriever knows better than anyone that love is blind. The 12-year-old pooch was born with a condition linked to dwarfism that — in addition to him being born without eyes — left him with physical disproportions. His oversized teeth paired with his eye sockets, which were sewn shut to prevent infection, make him look like he’s smiling; hence his name. Despite having been blind from birth and raised in a puppy mill, Smiley the golden retriever doesn’t seem to have anything to be glum about.

This perpetually happy pup is so motivating, joyful and loving that he works as a therapy dog as well, spreading his joy to mentally ill and disabled patients every week. She brings Smiley to funerals and visitations to sit with children who are experiencing a death close to them. The presence of a dog helps relieve the sadness surrounding them in these moments, she said. Smiley also visits a local library to sit with children with autism who have difficulty reading, and spends time in classrooms for students with special needs. “These kids who were born with different disabilities are able to see that dogs, too, are born with the same disabilities,” George said. “It’s important for them to see that Smiley has overcome, and that he’s happy.”

An inspiration to us all!

One Smiley began interacting with people more and more, George realized how good at it he was. She started taking him to hospitals too, to visit people who needed some cheering up. There was one patient in a nursing home named Teddy that had no communication and could not speak at all. Staff said they had never seen him smile. Smiley didn’t take long to live up to his name, and was spreading joy to others from the moment he came home with George. Because he cannot see, Smiley gets to know people based on feeling. “Because he needs to feel you, he sits there forever waiting to be patted and stroked,” George explained. “He leans up right against you.” George believes this is why Smiley is such a good therapy dog. When training Smiley, George did not follow standard voice commands to teach him, but rather took a step back and let Smiley figure things out on his own. “He’s never been able to see, so he’s had to learn to understand his other amazing senses,” she says.“Smiley just makes people smile.” This wide understanding and sensitivity is what has made has made Smiley so lovable.