Blind Golden Retriever 'Smiley' Warms Hearts as Therapy Dog.
By GILLIAN MOHNEY
A golden retriever named “Smiley” is living up to his name as a therapy dog who brightens the days of patients and nursing home residents in the small town of Stouffville, Canada.
![](http://www.dailydogtag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/smiley21-e1342994661573.jpg)
Smiley was born without eyes, but is still able to work as a St. John’s Ambulance service dog in Ontario. The dog’s owner, Joanne George, rescued the dog from a puppy mill, when he was about 1 1/2 years old.
“He was very scared, [the dogs] had never been out of that barn,” George recalled, adding that Smiley quickly bonded with another one of his dogs, a deaf Great Dane named Tyler.
“Tyler was so bouncy and crazy and happy go lucky and [Smiley] turned into the same dog,” George said. “He came out from underneath the tables where he was always hiding.”
George said seeing Smiley interact with crowds made her realize he would be a perfect therapy dog. She now brings the dogs to hospitals and schools in the area and says the dog always brightens people’s days.
She said at one nursing home, she realized how even a small visit with Smiley could make people happy. “There was this man Teddy, [he had] no speech and no other communication at all,” George said of one memorable nursing home resident. “[The staff] had never seen Teddy smile before.” It's a miracle that Smiley made Teddy smile, when no one else could.
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This dog is gorgeous! I smiled and then it brought tears to my eyes. Such an angel and so full of life. He may not have the ability to see, but what he lacks in sight he makes up with personality and love. Tons and tons of love. I dare you not to feel anything over this precious dog.