At 13 years old, Raina has never missed a beat—despite being born blind and deaf.
Kristen Strouse, of Perkasie, Penn., adopted Raina when she was just 6 months old. This sweet Australian shepherd was born a double merle, which caused her white coat, blindness, and deafness at birth. But Strouse says her disabilities have never held her back.
Strouse has owned dogs all her life, but Raina was the first dog she adopted with disabilities. She saw a picture of the gorgeous pup online and couldn’t resist her sweet face. Without even meeting Raina, Strouse put in an application to adopt her from the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance and brought her home not long after that. With the help of Strouse and her other fur siblings—a German shepherd named Millie and other foster dogs—Raina quickly got the lay of the land.
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Raina was still a puppy when Strouse realized she could inspire those around her and began bringing her to pet and community events. She educated the public on what it’s like to have a blind dog, showing them how pups who are a little different can still live full lives—while enriching their families’ lives as well.
Strouse and Raina even started the Lending a Paw program, a set of fundraising concerts Strouse (a music teacher) put on with her students.
“I think people seeing these dogs out in public, they’re more willing to take a chance on special-needs dogs,” Strouse tells Daily Paws. “The more people meet them, the more willing they are to consider a dog that’s a little different.”
The other part of Raina’s impact is pure inspiration. Raina is comfortably in her elder years now, but some of her favorite activities throughout her life include swimming and hiking—on top of sniffing out treats, of course.
“Raina doesn’t let her disabilities stop her from living a quality, awesome life,” Strouse says. “She’s such a sweet, happy girl. For a dog who was born different, you’d think it could set her back, but she just doesn’t know any better.”
Strouse adds that Raina’s happy spirit and ability to tackle life despite being blind and deaf makes a positive impact on everyone she meets. Getting around isn’t even a huge challenge for her. In public, Raina follows Kristen’s lead, and when she learned the lay of the land around the house, she stuck close to Kristen’s other dogs and trusted them to guide her.
“Everyone who meets her is so astounded by her. People see her, and they realize that disability is not disabling,” she says. “It means possibility. A lot of people really take seeing her, meeting her, and hearing her story to heart. They say, ‘If this little dog can make it through the world who can’t see and hear, then I can do this, whatever it may be.'”
And not only has Raina inspired the masses, but she’s inspired her owner, too.
Strouse went through her own challenges when she fell ill in 2015. She says Raina gave her a reason to get out of bed every day and keep moving forward in her life.
“Raina really gave my life meaning and purpose and she still does,” she says. “She’s always been there for me in the good times and not-so-good times. More good times than not!”
Raina is up for one of American Humane’s Hero Dog Awards as one of the nominees in the Emerging Hero and Shelter category. Voting is open through Aug. 24.
