This is Xander. He is an impossibly adorable blind therapy pug who gives hope to victims of child and spousal abuse.
He is a two year old service dog in Oregon who was rescued by his besotted owner Rodney Beedy.
“I loved him,” Rodeny said of meeting Xander for the first time.
“Just his personality and everything, I was saying ‘I take this dog, he’s going to make a fantastic therapy dog.”
“A lot of times he’ll hear a child crying at an event and he’s bolted several times, at least 500 feet over to this child to comfort them,” Rodney said.
At home, Rodney points out that Xander is just like any of his other dogs. "He doesn't act like a dog that has no sight. He runs around here and does different things just like a sighted dog. He goes in and out of the doggie door. He figured that one out in one night," he explained.
Meet Xander The Pug
Xander The Pug(01 of16)
Open Image ModalXander, a pug who lost his eyes, works as a therapy dog in Klamath Falls, Oregon. (Steven Silton/Herald and News) (credit:(Steven Silton/Herald and News))
Xander The Pug(02 of16)
Open Image ModalXander frequently works with children who are abused and also for groups that raise awareness about domestic violence.(Steven Silton/Herald and News)
Xander The Pug(03 of16)
Open Image ModalXander The Pug(04 of16)
Open Image ModalXander The Pug(05 of16)
Open Image ModalTherapy Dogs Go To Boston(06 of16)
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Open Image ModalK-9 Comfort dogs Chewie (left), Ruthie (back) and Luther (right). (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalLutheran Church Charities staff members (from left to right) Tim Kurth, Dona Martin, Lynn Buhrke, and Tim Hetzner. K-9 Comfort dogs (from left to right) Zippy, Ruthie, Chewie and Luther before leaving for Newtown, Conn. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalThe Lutheran Church Charities team has arrived in Newtown, Conn. Pictured with the team is Pastor Morris from Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newtown, Conn. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalComfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities were deployed to Newtown, Conn., over the weekend. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalComfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities were deployed to Newtown, Conn., over the weekend. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalComfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities were deployed to Newtown, Conn., over the weekend. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalComfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities were deployed to Newtown, Conn., over the weekend. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalComfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities were deployed to Newtown, Conn., over the weekend. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalComfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities were deployed to Newtown, Conn., over the weekend. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)
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Open Image ModalComfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities were deployed to Newtown, Conn., over the weekend. (credit:Lutheran Church Charities)