Halo device gives blind dogs a new leash on life

LOS ANGELES (WABC) -- It is said that necessity is the mother of invention and that is true for one California-based dog owner. Silvie Bordeaux of Los Angeles is the proud owner of Muffin, an aging toy poodle that is battling cancer and failing eyesight.

Bordeaux was determined to help Muffin deal with her infirmities and has created a device she calls Muffin's Halo Guide for Blind Dogs. Composed of copper tubing attached by cloth wings to a harness that fits on the dog, the device prevents Muffin from walking into walls or other undesirable objects such as furniture.

"If the Halo hits the wall first, it will slow them down," said Dr. Christin Fahrer, from Eye Care for Animals in Culver City, a suburb of Los Angeles.

"They can eat and sleep and play and run with it on," Bordeaux said. "It's like their superpowers."

It is projected that the Halo device will allow dog owners to more effectively care for their pets during periods of convalescence or failing health. It will also provide new hope for injured or aging shelter dogs who might have been overlooked for adoption due to their age or ill-health.

Bordeaux has created a nonprofit company that hopes to distribute Halos to blind dogs in shelters and rescues. The devices come in different colors and styles and ranges in price from $69.95 to $129.95.