They make look ordinary, but the mild mannered dogs relaxing at this North Buffalo home are actually "Super Dogs". They're owners are pretty remarkable too. Marie and Kathy Lyons and Ellen Moulder are sisters. The trio shares a congenital and progressive eye condition called Gyrate Atrophy of the chlorides and retina.
The condition has stolen their sight, but thanks to their guide dogs not their freedom. Marie got her first guide dog in 1981 and says "I felt like flying." She says one of her dogs saved her life, preventing her from being hit by a snowplow during a storm adding "she pulled me back and over and then the snow plow was right there where I had been standing"
Training for guide dogs can cost as much as fifty thousand dollars. Schools like Guiding Eyes for the Blind take no government funds and provide these life-changing dogs for free.
September is National Service Dog month and the sisters plan to participate in a dog walk Saturday, September 16th. Walkers will gather in the parking lot of Pet Supplies Plus at 2155 Delaware Ave at 9:30 a.m. For more information you can contact Kathy Lyons )716) 873-0001 or khaki14216@gmail.com