Purebred Breeders recognizes Blind Teen; Continues Running with the help of Guide Dog

At Purebred Breeders, everything we do revolves around our love for dogs.  It is an undeniable fact that dogs have a big impact in our lives.  Such is the case with Sami Stoner, a legally blind 16-year old cross-country runner.  Sami, the youngest of three daughters lost her eyesight in eighth grade due to Stargardt disease.  She was able to continue running alongside a friend, Hannah Ticoras, who ran alongside her as a guide for the first two years of high school.  However when Hannah graduated, Sami was left unsure if she would be able to continue running.

Sami and her family welcomed Chloe, a golden retriever guide dog into their home in August.  Chloe accompanies her and guides her both in school and on the course, finding the clearest paths for her.

She is believed to be the first high school athlete in Ohio to be competing with an animal.

Her story is truly inspiring. Her father, Keith Stoner, who took the photograph pictured here, commented,

“It’s an amazing, scary thing to see her take off and all you can do is pray that everybody comes back safely. This is my baby.  She’s not necessarily up there collecting a medal at end of the race, but in our heart she does win them all.”

Although her situation is unfortunate, you won’t hear a complaint from her, she hopes that her story serves as proof that even if you have a disability or a disadvantage that it does not mean your life is over.  Stopping the things you love doing shouldn’t be an option, but finding a way to do them is.  Sami has a 4.0 grade point average this year and we are sure she has a bright future ahead of her.

For our recent post on Ceili, the dog that saved her owner’s life, click here.

For more information on Purebred Breeders LLC or if you are interested in adopting a puppy, visit us at PurebredBreeders.com