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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — After meeting Xander the blind pug, you might look on your situation with a little more optimism.
That is the purpose Rodney and Marcie Beedy hope Xander fills for people. The year-old pug is missing his eyes and has difficulty breathing through his nose after an accident, the details of which they are unsure. They adopted him from an animal shelter in January, adding him to the pack of six other pugs in their home.
The couple said they knew even-tempered Xander would make a good therapy dog because people could empathize with him.
"This would be perfect for a therapy dog because of the way his attitude was: how calm he was but he still had a good outgoingness," Rodney told Herald and News.
They take Xander around Klamath Falls, Oreg., to animal shelters, nursing homes, safe houses for abused children, and daycares to work. Kids play with him, people cuddle him and he comforts them.
"One girl (at the animal shelter) was crying, so I went and got Xander. The girl's empathy went to him and she totally forgot about everything else," Rodney said. "She started laughing and playing with Xander. It was amazing how well he did that."
And as long as people need him, the Beedys say he will be available.
"It would be great if Xander didn't have a job," he said. "There would be no hurting kids out there. If Xander didn't have a job that would be wonderful. He would just play all the time."
Top image: Herald and News
