Helen Keller: A life with dogs

Dogs brought Helen Keller joy, companionship and acceptance. From her childhood, through the years she attended Perkins School for the Blind and to the very end of her life, dogs were always by her side.

by BILL WINTER

   Helen Keller loved dogs.
   Because she was deafblind, she never heard a dog’s joyous bark or watched a puppy exuberantly chase a ball. But she could feel the inquisitive nudge of a dog’s wet nose, or soft fur under her hand or a tired canine head resting gently on her lap. Love finds a way to communicate.
   Dogs brought Keller joy, companionship and acceptance. From her childhood, through the years she attended Perkins School for the Blind and to the very end of her life, dogs were always by her side. And she doted on them all, large or small – from scrappy Scotties to dignified Great Danes to a famous Akita...Continue reading, photos...