Blind man gets new guide dog to replace loss in home break-in

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- An 84-year-old blind man who lost his longtime guide dog to a violent intruder at their public housing apartment walked outside Wednesday with a "retired" Seeing Eye dog donated to be his new companion.

"I think it is amazing. He comes straight back here to the porch," Frank Owen said after a short walk from his front door with the 5-year-old German shepherd, Baldwin.

The dog was donated to replace Blackie, a Labrador retriever who was Owen's guide dog for 12 years until his back was broken while trying to defend his owner's apartment from an intruder.

Baldwin has "started off doing a real good job," Owen said.

The dog was donated in response to news reports about the attack on Blackie, said Faye Curtiss of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults agency that provides charitable assistance to Owen.

Nothing was stolen in the Aug. 9 burglary, but the blow to Blackie forced the retired sanitation worker to have his longtime companion euthanized. Police are investigating the break-in but have no leads on a suspect, spokesman Ed Buice said Wednesday.

Baldwin's former owner, who is blind, said he "retired" the Seeing Eye dog about a month ago because he no longer needed the animal's assistance and gave him to a law enforcement officer to be a pet. The officer, who requested anonymity, donated Baldwin to Owen.

Owen lives on a $540 a month Social Security payment and couldn't afford to replace Blackie. Delores Coffey, the partnership's director of homemaker services, said offers of donations to Owen came from as far away as Alaska.

Owen, blinded by glaucoma, hard of hearing and unsure on his feet, said Wednesday he didn't know who gave him the dog but he was certain Baldwin would be ready to help lead his new owner downtown "whenever I have to go."

Coffey described the budding relationship as a "happy ending."

"They are getting along really well," she said. "He already seems to be bonding with the dog."