Guide dog's back broken during home invasion
Chattanooga, TN (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Aug 9, 2003
County: Hamilton

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

An 84-year-old blind man who lost his longtime guide dog to a violent intruder at their apartment in Chattanooga has a new companion: a "retired" seeing-eye dog that was donated.

Frank Owen says the five-year-old German shepherd, Baldwin, is amazing. After walking Wednesday with the dog on a leash and harness, Owen says Baldwin already comes straight back to his porch.

The dog was donated to replace Blackie, a Labrador retriever who was Owen's guide dog for 12 years. The dog was donated in response to media reports about an intruder hitting Blackie, breaking his back in an August 9th burglary.

Nothing was taken in the burglary but the attack forced the retired sanitation worker to have his longtime companion euthanized.

Baldwin's former owner, who is blind, said he "retired" the seeing-eye dog about a month ago and gave him to a law enforcement officer to be a pet. The officer, who requested anonymity, donated Baldwin to Owen.

References

• WATE.Com

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