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Halo allows Blind Dogs to Walk Around without Bumping into Objects

posted by janrinok on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:28AM   Printer-friendly
from the ring-of-confidence dept.

cafebabe writes:

The Daily Mail reports that:

Basil the blind dog was picked up by rescuers who noticed he could not walk five yards without bumping into something.

Now, thanks to an innovative new gadget from America, Basil has been given a new lease of life - and his carers hope they will now be able to find a family to permanently house him.

The four-year-old Corgi cross has been given a special guard to wear around his head, which manufacturers call the 'Muffin's Halo'. The light-weight tubular metal ring stops Basil from bumping into objects, allowing him to run around freely without bruising himself. It is attached to his body with a harness and a pillow, which is fashioned to look like angel wings. The 'halo' is designed to be slightly longer and wider than the wearer and when it touches an object, it puts pressure on Basil's shoulders, teaching him to turn away.

Yes, the device is as simple as it sounds but it seems to work and the dog seems happy. Sometimes, going hi-tech just isn't necessary.

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @05:11PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @05:11PM (#66610)

    Whiskers are good for identifying objects to the side. If you're a rat, and you can sweep them forward, then you get a little warning of imminent collision, but not if you're moving very fast. This blind dog apparently still liked to run around like a puppy. His problem wasn't bumping against walls so much as running straight into them. This is a great solution. The notion of prosthetic bumpers or whiskers is not common knowledge, and a little publicity is well deserved.